Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Gaza: Sanitation and Water Supply

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of damage to water and sanitation systems in Gaza.

David Rutley: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Afghanistan: Refugees

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department's guidance Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme Pathway 3: eligibility for British Council and GardaWorld contractors and Chevening Alumni, published on 17 October 2023, which countries are included in Afghanistan’s neighbouring region.

Leo Docherty: Under Pathway 3 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) the Government will offer places to eligible at risk British Council Contractors, Gardaworld contractors and Chevening alumni including their eligible family members from Afghanistan and the neighbouring region, which includes all countries that border Afghanistan. Each expression of interest is considered on a case-by-case basis. As announced on 17 October the FCDO will now refer all eligible people who expressed interest, including where this exceeds the original allocation of 1,500 places.

Afghanistan: Refugees

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has separate qualifying criteria for entitlement to support for Afghan refugees who were employed (a) directly by the Government or British Council and (b) by an organisation funded by the Government or British Council.

Leo Docherty: Eligible at-risk Afghan Nationals, who were directly employed by the British Government and British Council, and those working for programmes funded by the British Government and British Council who supported the UK effort in Afghanistan, are both being considered for resettlement if they applied for the MOD-led Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme. The eligibility criteria for ARAP is set out on gov.uk. Any offer of resettlement will be contingent on security screening and provision of biometric information. We continue to work, including with likeminded partners and countries neighbouring Afghanistan, on resettlement issues and to support safe passage for eligible Afghans.

Afghanistan: Earthquakes

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to provide support to Afghanistan following earthquakes in October 2023.

Leo Docherty: The FCDO allocated £1 million towards the Red Cross response to help meet emergency needs following the first earthquake on 7 October. This has funded shelter and emergency relief items for vulnerable people. UK funded prepositioned supplies have been drawn on by humanitarian partners for early response. $5 million has been allocated from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund and a further $5 million from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, both of which the UK supports. We continue to closely monitor the situation.

Gaza

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Israeli counterpart on (a) ending Israeli restrictions on the supply of water, food and fuel into Gaza and (b) rescinding of the evacuation order issued by the Israeli Defence Force.

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to restore water, food, fuel and electricity to Gaza.

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of compliance with international humanitarian law of Israeli Government restrictions on electricity, food, water and fuel in Gaza.

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the provision of humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people within Gaza.

David Rutley: The Prime Minister spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on 12 October. He reiterated the need to ensure the protection of innocent civilians and underlined the importance of safe humanitarian access to Gaza. On 19 October the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region where he met meet leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar and pushed for agreement on humanitarian access to Gaza, the release of British hostages and foreign nationals and securing safe passage for British Nationals to leave Gaza.The UK is calling for immediate unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so that essential aid including food, water, fuel and medical supplies can reach civilian populations. On the 16 October, the Prime Minister announced £10 million in humanitarian funding for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) and on 23 October a further £20 million in response to the escalating conflict. This funding will allow trusted partners, including key UN agencies to provide essential relief items and services. The UK is also calling on all parties to protect border crossings to support safe humanitarian access and mitigate harm to civilians. The FCDO is actively engaging with the international humanitarian system (including Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) UN agencies and Civil Society Organisations) to address the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We will continue to use all the tools of British diplomacy to sustain the prospects of peace and stability in the region.

Gaza

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees and (b) UK humanitarian agencies operating in Gaza on the (i) funding and (ii) other aid that is needed in Gaza.

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with (a) The United Nations Relief and Works Agency and (b) UK humanitarian agencies operating in Gaza on the potential risk of infectious outbreak in Gaza in the context of the restriction on water and fuel supplies.

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and (b) UK humanitarian agencies operating in Gaza on the number of water and sanitation facilities (a) continuing to operate and (b) no longer functioning in Gaza.

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has held discussions with (a) the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and (b) UK humanitarian agencies operating in Gaza on the (i) level of fuel reserves for hospital backup generators in Gaza and (b) implications for continued medical treatment of civilians.

David Rutley: The UK is calling for immediate unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so that essential aid can reach civilian populations including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. The UK is also calling on all parties to protect border crossings to support safe humanitarian access and mitigate harm to civilians. The FCDO is actively engaging with the international humanitarian system (including Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) UN agencies, Civil Society Organisations) to address the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary continues to engage regularly and closely with his Israeli counterparts, including in relation to ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to people in Gaza. He has now engaged with representatives from almost 20 countries about the situation in Israel and Gaza.On the 16 October, the Prime Minister announced £10 million in humanitarian funding for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) and on 23 October a further £20 million in response to the escalating conflict. This funding will allow trusted partners, including key UN agencies, to provide essential relief items and services. These could include food, water and emergency shelter, depending on the needs on the ground. The UK is also exploring options for moving humanitarian supplies closer to the region and is liaising with aid agencies in the region to ensure relief supplies can be distributed as quickly and effectively as possible.

Question

Mrs Flick Drummond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed changes to the judiciary in Israel on Palestinians in the region.

David Rutley: Israel’s constitutional arrangements are a matter for Israelis. In meeting Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Cohen in March and September, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary urged Israel to build consensus and avoid societal division, ensuring that the independence of Israel’s judiciary is preserved. Our focus is working with global partners to sustain the prospect of regional peace and stability.

Question

John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to counter the work of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

David Rutley: The UK condemns Iran’s hostile activity in the UK and elsewhere. We continue to work in close cooperation with our international partners to ensure that our collective response is robust and deters the IRGC. In July, the Foreign Secretary announced a new sanctions regime that will give the UK new and enhanced powers to counter Iran’s destabilising activities.

Gaza: Humanitarian Situation

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

David Rutley: The UK is calling for immediate unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so that essential aid can reach civilian populations, including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. The UK is also calling on all parties to protect border crossings to support safe humanitarian access and mitigate harm to civilians. The Foreign Secretary continues to engage regularly and closely with his Israeli counterparts, including in relation to ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to people in Gaza. He most recently spoke to the Israeli Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, on 23 October. The UK will remain committed to mitigating the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and calling for international humanitarian law to be respected, while standing alongside the people of Israel against the terrorist group Hamas.

Blue Belt Programme

Dame Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to amend the Blue Belt Programme to (a) increase protections for endangered bird species, (b) conserve fishing stocks and (c) protect the ocean floor.

David Rutley: The FCDO's Blue Belt Programme provides the UK Overseas Territories (OTs) with support, training and technical expertise to protect species and habitats within their waters. Each OT is unique, therefore the management and protective measures are Territory specific. For example, OTs have put in place measures to protect sea-bird species; established sustainable and precautionary fishing practices to conserve fish stocks and have banned damaging fishing practices (such as benthic trawlers) and hydrocarbon removal to protect the ocean floor. The Programme will continue to support OTs with the protection and sustainable management of their marine environment.

West Bank: Violence

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his counterparts in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on the escalation of violence in the West Bank.

David Rutley: On 19 October, the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region where he met leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar to help prevent the conflict spreading across the region and to seek a peaceful resolution. He pushed for agreement on humanitarian access to Gaza, the release of British hostages and foreign nationals and securing safe passage for British Nationals to leave Gaza. The Foreign Secretary also discussed the urgent need for the Rafah crossing to open so that lifesaving aid can reach those who need it and for Hamas to release the hostages. Since the Hamas attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken to counterparts from almost 20 countries as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East.

Gaza: Disability

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Israeli counterparts on the welfare of people with disabilities in Gaza.

David Rutley: While the UK has not made specific representations on the welfare of people with disabilities in Gaza, we have been clear about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza for all civilians there. The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold international humanitarian law and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law. Civilians must be respected and protected. Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect innocent civilians.

British Indian Ocean Territory: Sri Lanka

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Sri Lankan counterpart on the treatment of Sri Lankan nationals in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

David Rutley: The welfare and safety of Sri Lankan Nationals in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) has been a top priority for the BIOT Administration. The migrants have received dedicated 24-hours-a-day medical support, access to telecoms, food, education and facilities for welfare, recreation and religious worship. In April, the Permanent Under Secretary met with the Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary where, on the Foreign Secretary's behalf, he discussed BIOT and illegal migration. He also thanked the Sri Lankan Government for facilitating the voluntary return of migrants; 133 have so far returned home in this manner.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) provide funding and (b) other support to (i) the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, (ii) other UN agencies, (iii) Medical Aid for Palestinians and (iv) other UK-based organisations in responding to the situation in Gaza.

David Rutley: The UK is calling for immediate unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so that essential aid can reach civilian populations including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. The UK is also calling on all parties to protect border crossings to support safe humanitarian access and mitigate harm to civilians. The FCDO is actively engaging with the international humanitarian system (including Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), UN agencies, Civil Society Organisations) to address the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.On 19 October, the Foreign Secretary was in the region where he met leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar and pushed for agreement on humanitarian access to Gaza, the release of British hostages and foreign nationals, and securing safe passage for British Nationals to leave Gaza. The UK will remain committed to mitigating the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and calling for international humanitarian law to be respected, while standing alongside the people of Israel against the terrorist group Hamas.

Development Aid: Disability

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much official development assistance his Department has spent on disability-specific projects in each year since 2010; and what proportion of total official development assistance spending in those years was spent on disability-specific projects.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) tracks spending on disability-specific official development assistance (ODA) programmes through the OECD-DAC disability policy marker.The UK was one of the first countries to adopt a disability policy marker, introducing it in 2018, and was central to the OECD-DAC adopting it in 2019. The marker has been used throughout FCDO since 2021.The table below provides FCDO spending on disability-specific ODA programmes and total bilateral ODA spending from 2016 onwards.DepartmentTotal bilateral1 ODA (£ million) (a)Bilateral ODA spent on disability-specific programmes (£ million) (b)Percentage of bilateral ODA spent through disability-specific programmes (c)20162   Department for International Development6,369.72.00.0%Foreign & Commonwealth Office479.60.00.0%Total6,849.32.00.0%20172   Department for International Development6,312.86.30.1%Foreign & Commonwealth Office594.60.00.0%Total6,907.46.30.1%2018   Department for International Development6,352.96.70.1%Foreign & Commonwealth Office603.40.00.0%Total6,956.36.70.1%2019   Department for International Development7,063.519.60.3%Foreign & Commonwealth Office642.30.00.0%Total7,705.719.60.3%2020   Department for International Development6,362.922.40.4%Foreign & Commonwealth Office559.60.00.0%Total6,922.522.40.3%2021   Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office4,485.316.20.4%2022   Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office4,607.519.00.4%Footnotes1. Following the OECD-DAC guidelines, the disability policy marker cannot be applied to core multilateral ODA. Core multilateral ODA has, therefore, been omitted from the table.2. DFID introduced the disability inclusion marker in 2018. Figures for disability-specific ODA spending in 2016 and 2017 have been estimated by retrospectively applying the marker to programmes that were running prior to 2018 and marked as being disability-specific in 2018.

Gaza: Hospitals

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of the explosion at the Al-Ahli Hospital on the capacity of health services in Gaza.

David Rutley: Following a thorough review, we think that it was likely a missile launched from within Gaza to Israel. Any loss of innocent life is a dreadful tragedy, and everyone will be thinking of both them and the families that they leave behind. This incident only reinforces the importance of getting humanitarian relief into Gaza safely and opening the Rafah crossing. Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken to counterparts from almost twenty countries, as well as the EU, as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East.

Balkans: British Council

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding was provided by the British Council to the DRAGOSLAVIA festival in June 2022.

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what were the objectives of the funding provided by the British Council to the DRAGOSLAVIA festival in June 2022.

David Rutley: Following an open call for participants for the British Council's Creative Producers programme, and subsequent competitive grant allocation process, Dragoslavia festival was awarded £10,700 by the British Council.The FCDO strongly supports the British Council's promotion of UK values overseas, including support for LGBT+ rights, through its work in education, the English language, as well as through Arts and Culture

Guatemala: Elections

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his US counterpart on the outcome of the presidential election in Guatemala.

David Rutley: The UK stands with those in Guatemala seeking to safeguard democracy and rule of law. I [Minister Rutley] have raised the need to respect democratic institutions and the choice of the people of Guatemala directly with the Guatemalan Foreign Minister and Vice Foreign Minister, as well as with Secretary General Almagro of the Organization of American States. The British Embassy in Guatemala City continues to work with international partners, including the US, to ensure the Guatemalan Government is aware of the importance we and our international partners put on the election results being upheld.

Guatemala: Indigenous Peoples and Land

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the report by Independent Delegation of International Lawyers to Guatemala, entitled We are not trespassers: this is our land: Agrarian conflict and Indigenous peoples’ rights in Alta Verapaz, published on 19 October 2023, whether his Department is taking steps to help protect (a) indigenous communities and (b) land rights in Guatemala.

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in Guatemala on ensuring the (a) free, (b) prior and (c) informed consent of Indigenous communities affected by (i) energy, (ii) extractive and (iii) other projects.

David Rutley: When I [Minister Rutley] visited Guatemala in April, I spoke with representatives from civil society groups about the need to protect space for environmental and human rights defenders including from indigenous communities. These concerns are regularly reflected in bilateral discussions we have with the Guatemalan Government and in international fora, including in the UK's response to the 42nd Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights in Guatemala. We also regularly raise the issue of human rights defenders and land defenders in Guatemala via our Embassy in Guatemala City, working in conjunction with other international partners, with the aim of promoting full respect for human rights for all Guatemalans. FCDO Officials attended a roundtable with the Independent Delegation of International Lawyers to Guatemala on 18 October, in order to discuss the findings of their report and consider their recommendations.

Balkans: British Council

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the priority objectives are for the British Council in the Balkans.

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what were the objectives of the British Council's Creative Producers in the Western Balkans 2021-2022 programme.

David Rutley: The British Council's priority objectives for the Western Balkans are to build the skills and capacity of individuals and organisations operating in the media and cultural sectors, to support region-wide digital transformation, and enhance and support English language teaching and learning.The Creative Producers programme was designed to develop the profession of creative production and artistic good practices across the countries involved and the UK.The British Council determines its own funding programmes operating at arms' length to Government.

Colombia: Peace Negotiations

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, in the context of the UK's position as the penholder for Colombia’s 2016 peace agreement at the UN Security Council, what steps his Department is taking to support recently opened peace talks between the Colombian Government and the EMC armed group.

David Rutley: Through our role as penholder at the UN Security Council (UNSC), the UK works closely with international partners to support the peace process in Colombia. During the most recent UNSC meeting on 11 October, Council members reiterated their willingness to help monitor and verify the implementation of the ceasefire between the Government and the armed group that identifies itself as the Estado Mayor Central, when the Secretary General confirms that appropriate ceasefire protocols are in place. In August, the UK helped coordinate a similar agreement for the UN Verification Mission in Colombia to monitor and verify the ceasefire with the armed group Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN). As the second largest UN Trust Fund donor, the UK will continue to be a leading advocate of Colombia's peace process.

British Nationals Abroad: Abduction and Homicide

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to use the new sanctions regime to help prevent attempts to (a) kill and (b) kidnap British residents.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Sanctions are one tool in our foreign policy toolkit. We situate their use within the UK's broader foreign policy objectives. The UK uses sanctions when we judge that they will be effective to achieve our foreign policy goals. It is a longstanding policy that we do not comment on future sanctions designations as to do so may reduce their impact.

Ukraine: Cereals

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help secure the export of grain from Ukraine.

Leo Docherty: The UK strongly condemns Russia's continued attacks on Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure. Ukrainian grain exports are crucial for global food security. We are working closely with Ukraine and other partners to ensure Ukraine is able to continue to export grain by the most optimal routes. These include overland European routes, Danube ports and Ukraine's maritime corridor from its Black Sea ports, which increasing flows of commercial shipping are now using. As this corridor is the most efficient and economical route, recent discussions with Ukraine and other partners have focussed on ensuring its commercial viability and security against Russian attacks.

Hong Kong: Human Rights

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Hong Kong.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: As the Foreign Secretary outlined in the latest Six-monthly Report to Parliament, published on 19 September, China has continued to curtail and control many of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong's Basic Law under the guise of national security. Changes to electoral legislation have also meant a further step away from universal suffrage in Hong Kong. We will continue to speak out against the continued erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong and China's ongoing non-compliance with the Joint Declaration. The Foreign Secretary made this clear during detailed discussions with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng during his visit to China on 31 August.

Sri Lanka: Tamils

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the purported persecution of the Tamil population in northern Sri Lanka.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Sri Lanka is a UK human rights priority country. The UK has led, with the Core Group on Sri Lanka, international efforts to promote human rights for all communities, including through UNHRC resolution 51/1. We recommended addressing issues around the expropriation of land in the North and East during Sri Lanka's Universal Periodic Review. The UK encourages establishment of a meaningful Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Whilst visiting Sri Lanka from 10-13 October I raised issues over progress on human rights and accountability mechanisms with the government of Sri Lanka (GoSL). We welcome the GoSL commitment to address longstanding grievances of minority communities through the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in India on the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with his Indian and Canadian counterparts about the serious allegations raised in the Canadian Parliament. We have raised this matter with the Government of India and we encourage them to cooperate fully with Canada's investigation. It is important the investigation runs its course, with the perpetrators brought to justice.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to to help ensure the safety of humanitarian workers in Gaza.

David Rutley: The UK is calling for immediate, unimpeded and safe humanitarian access for lifesaving aid to reach civilians. This includes adequate volumes of food, water, fuel and medical supplies as a priority. The safety of civilians and humanitarian personnel is critical to enable aid to reach those who need it most.We strongly condemn all forms of violence and incitement to violence directed towards healthcare workers. The wounded and critically ill in Gaza and the West Bank should be able to access the urgent medical care they need. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises the importance of this issue with the Israeli authorities.The Foreign Secretary continues to engage regularly and closely with his Israeli counterparts, including in relation to ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to people in Gaza. The Prime Minister has announced £30 million in humanitarian funding for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in response to the escalating conflict. This funding will allow trusted partners, including key UN agencies, to provide essential relief items and services.

Western Sahara

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help (a) promote self-determination for the Saharawi people in the Western Sahara and (b) secure a referendum with an option for independence.

David Rutley: The UK supports UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. We support the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General. The UK welcomes the recent efforts of all concerned to engage with the Envoy and to facilitate his recent visit to Western Sahara. We will continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed the importance of moving the process forward towards resolution with Morocco's Foreign Minister on 9 May.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of Israeli military operations in Gaza on the ability of aid agencies to deliver essential humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the humanitarian impact of the Israeli Government's evacuation order issued on 12 October 2023 to civilians in the north of Gaza.

David Rutley: The UK is calling for immediate unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so that essential aid can reach civilian populations including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. The UK is also calling on all parties to protect border crossings to support safe humanitarian access and mitigate harm to civilians. The FCDO is actively engaging with the international humanitarian system (including intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organisations, UN agencies, civil society organisations) to address the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.On the 16 October, the Prime Minister announced £10 million in humanitarian funding for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) and on 23 October a further £20 million, in response to the escalating conflict. This funding will allow trusted partners, including key UN agencies, to provide essential relief items and services. These could include food, water and emergency shelter, depending on the needs on the ground. The UK is also exploring options for moving humanitarian supplies closer to the region and is liaising with aid agencies in the region to ensure relief supplies can be distributed as quickly and effectively as possible.Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect innocent civilians and underlined the importance of safe humanitarian access to Gaza in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts. On 19 October, the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region where he met leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar and pushed for agreement on humanitarian access to Gaza, the release of British hostages and foreign nationals, and securing safe passage for British Nationals to leave Gaza. The UK will remain committed to mitigating the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and calling for international humanitarian law to be respected, while standing alongside the people of Israel against the terrorist group Hamas.

Gaza: Borders

Joanna Cherry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Israeli authorities on lifting restrictions to (a) water, (b) food, (c) fuel and (d) electricity in Gaza.

David Rutley: The UK is calling for immediate unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so that essential aid can reach civilian populations including food, water, fuel and medical supplies. The UK is also calling on all parties to protect border crossings to support safe humanitarian access and mitigate harm to civilians. The FCDO is actively engaging with the international humanitarian system (including intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organisations, UN agencies, civil society organisations) to address the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.On the 16 October, the Prime Minister announced £10 million in humanitarian funding for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) and on 23 October a further £20 million, in response to the escalating conflict. This funding will allow trusted partners, including key UN agencies, to provide essential relief items and services. These could include food, water and emergency shelter, depending on the needs on the ground. The UK is also exploring options for moving humanitarian supplies closer to the region and is liaising with aid agencies in the region to ensure relief supplies can be distributed as quickly and effectively as possible.Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect innocent civilians and underlined the importance of safe humanitarian access to Gaza in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts. On 19 October, the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region where he met leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar and pushed for agreement on humanitarian access to Gaza, the release of British hostages and foreign nationals, and securing safe passage for British Nationals to leave Gaza. The UK will remain committed to mitigating the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and calling for international humanitarian law to be respected, while standing alongside the people of Israel against the terrorist group Hamas.

Libya: IRA

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to compensate victims of acts of terrorism perpetrated by the IRA using Libyan-supplied weapons.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of using revenue raised from frozen Libyan assets to compensate people affected by acts of terrorism perpetrated by the IRA using Libyan-supplied weapons.

David Rutley: The UK Government reiterates its sympathy for UK victims of Qaddafi-sponsored terrorism, and indeed all victims of the Troubles. It is important that the UK Government pursues fairness and consistency in the provision of support to victims of terrorism and access to publicly funded compensation schemes. The UK's position with regards to victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism is that it is the responsibility of the Libyan Government to provide compensation. Moreover, the UK Government cannot lawfully use frozen Libyan assets to provide compensation to victims as doing so would break international law and our obligations as members of the UN.

Gaza: Hospitals

Sir Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on who was responsible for the explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital on 17 October 2023.

Sir Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what sources of evidence his Department will use to assess who was responsible for the explosion at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza.

David Rutley: Following a thorough review, we think that it was likely a missile launched from within Gaza to Israel. Any loss of innocent life is a dreadful tragedy, and everyone will be thinking of both them and the families that they leave behind. This incident only reinforces the importance of getting humanitarian relief into Gaza safely and opening the Rafah crossing. Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken to counterparts from almost twenty countries, as well as the EU, as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East.

Gaza: Hospitals

Claire Hanna: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to independently verify the origin of the explosion on the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza.

David Rutley: Following a thorough review, we think that it was likely a missile launched from within Gaza to Israel. Any loss of innocent life is a dreadful tragedy, and everyone will be thinking of both them and the families that they leave behind. This incident only reinforces the importance of getting humanitarian relief into Gaza safely and opening the Rafah crossing. Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken to counterparts from almost twenty countries, as well as the EU, as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to establish a non-charitable interparliamentary organisation for the Commonwealth Parliamentary association.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The CPA (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association) is a valued partner of the FCDO and we greatly appreciate the important work being done by the organisation and its regional branches across the Commonwealth.The Foreign Secretary remains committed to addressing the issue of CPA's status and wants CPA International to remain headquartered in the United Kingdom. FCDO officials have had constructive engagement with CPA leadership in recent months.

Commonwealth: Trade Agreements

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of seeking a comprehensive trade agreement between Commonwealth member states.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: There is already a strong 'Commonwealth advantage'. Members on average benefit from a 21 per cent reduction in trading costs, and 27 per cent higher bilateral investment within the Commonwealth. The UK has taken a range of actions to strengthen this. We have agreed trade deals with 33 Commonwealth countries and introduced the Developing Countries Trading scheme (DCTS) in 2022 - which benefits 18 Commonwealth countries. Our assessment is that a Commonwealth-wide Free Trade Agreement would be extremely hard to achieve; we will instead continue to prioritise practical steps which will benefit intra-Commonwealth trade and investment.

India: Human Rights

Claudia Webbe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to help tackle reported human rights abuses in Manipur.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: Our diplomatic network in India closely follows reports of violence in the state of Manipur. We remain committed to championing human rights around the world and we work with the UN, OSCE (The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe), Council of Europe, G7 and other multilateral fora to promote Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB). The UK Government has a broad and deep partnership with the Government of India and we discuss all elements of our relationship, including issues where we have them. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia, raised the current situation in Manipur with the Indian Government during his visit to India in May.

Russia: Sanctions

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the increase in exports to Russia from (a) the People’s Republic of China and (b) some other countries since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022; and what steps he is taking to help tackle attempts to undermine sanctions against Russia.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: China's continued failure to condemn the invasion is deeply disappointing and harmful to China's interests and reputation in Europe. We have pressed upon China at all levels not to offer support for Russia's actions. The Foreign Secretary spoke to his Chinese counterpart in August to stress that message. Internationally, we are working closely with the EU and US to engage third countries where we have seen a spike in trade in sanctioned goods with Russia. This joint diplomatic engagement is producing results, with a number of third countries agreeing to control exports of goods that are critical to Russia's war effort.

Xinjiang: Human Rights

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of UK (a) businesses and (b) other organisations (i) operating and (ii) cooperating with businesses in Xinjiang which have been implicated in human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Government's overseas business risk guidance makes clear to UK companies the risks of operating in Xinjiang and urges them to conduct appropriate due diligence and consider their corporate responsibilities when making business decisions. In addition to the overseas business risk guidance, the Government has produced guidance for UK government bodies to help them exclude suppliers where there is sufficient evidence of modern slavery violations in any of their supply chains.

Jimmy Lai

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to secure the release of Jimmy Lai.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The Foreign Secretary raised Mr Lai's case with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on 31 August. The Minister for the Indo-Pacific also raised Mr Lai's case with Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of Hong Kong, on 18 April. Senior officials have and will continue to raise cases such as Mr Lai's with the Hong Kong authorities. We continue to press for consular access to Mr Lai and diplomats at our Consulate-General in Hong Kong attend Mr Lai's court proceedings. In September, the UK led a side event at the UN Human Rights Council on media freedom in Hong Kong, supported by 24 other countries.

China: Refugees

Sir Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Chinese counterpart on China's responsibilities under the 1951 Refugee Convention on the non-refoulment of refugees.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: We are aware of reports of North Korean refugees being forcefully repatriated to North Korea. We emphasise directly to the Chinese authorities that they should not be detaining and forcefully repatriating North Korean refugees. The UK actively promotes the implementation of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention which asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. At the 17 August UN Security Council meeting on the human rights situation in the DPRK, the UK called on all states to abide by the principle of non-refoulement.

Department for Education

Higher Education: Buildings

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issued to higher education providers on determining the presence of RAAC on their estates before 1 August 2023.

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department requested from higher education providers on the (a) extent of and (b) likely cost of remediation of RAAC on their estates before 1 August 2023.

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has commissioned information from the Office for Students on the potential impact of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) present on university campuses on student (a) learning and (b) accommodation since 1 August 2023.

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete across university campuses on teaching degree courses as students begin the new academic year.

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has issued to the higher education sector on RAAC since 1 August 2023.

Robert Halfon: The higher education sector is independent from government; it is therefore for individual providers to determine and address any estate issues.While mindful of the sector’s independence, we have requested information on this issue from higher education (HE) providers and their representative bodies to gain a wider understanding of the situation and to provide advice. The department contacted Universities UK on 14 June 2023 to direct HE providers to relevant RAAC guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers and the departmental RAAC guidance for state-funded education buildings.This was followed by a similar email to all the HE mission groups on 6 September. A third communication was sent to all the HE mission groups on 29 September, again referring HE providers to the Institution of Structural Engineers RAAC guidance and clarifying that the departmental RAAC guidance is to support those responsible for state funded education buildings.The department is continuing to work with the sector to ensure that all HE providers have access to the right guidance and are taking action to ensure students are protected.

Teachers: Training

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of trainee teachers for (a) religious education, (b) English, (c) history and (d) geography were trained through (i) school-led provision and (ii) higher education institution-led provision in 2021-22; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Religious Education trainees for 2021/22 split by training route shows 51% were trained through higher education institution led provision (HEI), and 49% percent were trained via school led provision. English trainees for 2021/22 split by training route shows 43% were trained through HEI-led provision, and 57% percent were trained via school led provision. History trainees for 2021/22 split by training route shows 44% were trained through HEI-led provision, and 56% percent were trained via school led provision. Geography trainees for 2021/22 split by training route shows 46% were trained through HEI-led provision, and 54% percent were trained via school led provision. These statistics are taken from the Initial Teacher Training Census 2021/22, which can be found online at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/initial-teacher-training-census/2021-22. The percentages provided are revised.

Schools: Finance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the letter from Susan Acland-Hood to the Chair of the Education Select Committee on National Funding Formula Update, published on 6 October 2023, for what reason was there a miscalculation in the total amount of funding allocated to schools for the 2024-25 financial year.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the letter from Susan Acland-Hood to the Chair of the Education Select Committee on National Funding Formula Update, published on 6 October 2023, what software her Department used to originally calculate the total funding allocated to schools for the 2024-25 financial year.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the letter from Susan Acland-Hood to the Chair of the Education Select Committee on National Funding Formula Update, published on 6 October 2023, whether she has made an assessment of the potential accuracy of other funding allocated by her Department to (a) local authorities and (b) other educational institutions this year; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department informed Local Authorities and academy trusts of the republished schools National Funding Formula (NFF) on 6 October 2023, alongside the publication of the corrected NFF allocations. In the initial NFF calculations for 2024-2025, there was an error processing forecast pupil numbers, which meant that the overall cost of the core schools budget using the announced schools NFF arrangements would be 0.62% greater than allocated. The Permanent Secretary has taken full responsibility for the error made by officials and has written to both the Secretary of State and the Education Select Committee to apologise.Since identifying the error, officials have reviewed other funding models to confirm that a similar issue has not occurred elsewhere. The Secretary of State has asked the Department's Permanent Secretary to conduct an independent and external review of the quality assurance process surrounding the calculation of the NFF. This will provide external and independent scrutiny and will be led by Peter Wyman CBE. Officials will ensure that any recommendations from the review are applied to other allocation calculations done by the Department, not just the schools NFF.The schools NFF calculations are mainly performed using R and RStudio. R is an open source programming language which is widely used for data analysis and processing across the public and private sectors, and RStudio is an open source development environment for using R.

Childminding

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing childminders to claim childcare funding for the costs of caring for (a) their own child and (b) a related child they are parenting when they have been registered for over five years.

David Johnston: Childminders in England cannot claim funding from the department’s early education entitlements for related children in their care. Early years entitlements are only available where a registered early years provider provides 'childcare' for a child. The definition of 'childcare' is set out in the Childcare Act 2006 and excludes care provided for a child by a parent, a person with parental responsibility for the child, a stepparent, foster parent, or other certain relatives (for example a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister, whether they are full blood or half blood, or by marriage or civil partnership).An Education Select Committee report, published on 18 July 2023, recommended that the department should permit parents to claim funded hours for their child if they are cared for by a registered childminder who is also a member of their extended family (for example a grandparent, aunt or uncle, rather than a child’s parent or primary carer). The department’s current approach avoids creating an incentive for adults to register to become childminders and being paid to look after related children that they are already looking after on an informal basis, which could apply to extended family members as well as parents and carers. Currently, the department has no plans to change this position as allowing childminders to receive funding for related children in their care would not be an effective use of public money, and may have a negative impact on the viability of existing childcare businesses.

Schools: Disability

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve access for mobility impaired students in schools.

David Johnston: All schools have a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments to prevent children and young people with disabilities from being put at a substantial disadvantage. Schools are not subject to the reasonable adjustment duty to make alterations to physical features, such as adding ramps. They must instead publish accessibility plans explaining how they plan to increase access for disabled pupils to the curriculum, improve the physical environment, and make written information more accessible to disabled pupils by providing information in a range of ways.In addition to this legal duty, the department’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan, published in March 2023, outlined plans to build a consistent national SEND and AP system that ensures all children and young people with SEND can access the support they need, and which parents and carers can trust, easily navigate and have confidence in.A key part of the new system will be effective and inclusive education for every child, underpinned by excellent local mainstream provision. This will mean that every child or young person has access to high-quality teaching and curriculum, supplemented by targeted support where required. To support this, the department is investing £2.6 billion between 2022-2025 to improve existing provision and fund new specialist and AP places across the country. As part of this £2.6 billion, the department has published over £1.5 billion of High Needs Provision Capital Allocations for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years. Local authorities can use this funding to deliver new places in mainstream schools (as well special schools and other specialist settings), and to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings.In the Improvement Plan, the department sought to prevent disability discrimination from arising by supporting schools to comply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010. The department also said there would be further consideration on how disability discrimination claims against schools are dealt with.As a first step, the department published a blog on the education hub, which is available here: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2023/04/10/what-are-reasonable-adjustments-and-how-do-they-help-disabled-pupils-at-school/. The aim was to raise awareness of the reasonable adjustments duty, share examples of the types of reasonable adjustments that schools can make, and explain how parents/carers and schools should work together to make reasonable adjustments. This builds on previous guidance on disabled children and the Equality Act 2010, funded by the department and published by the Council for Disabled Children in March 2022, which is available here: https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/attachments/Equality%20Act%20Guide%20for%20schools%20-%20FINAL%20EM%20EDIT.pdf.

Alternative Education: Special Educational Needs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children with SEND are not in formal education in (a) Romford constituency and (b) the London Borough of Havering as of 13 October 2023.

David Johnston: The department holds data on the number of children and young people with an Education, Health and Care plan, including the setting in which the child or young person is typically educated or where they are not in education or training for any reason. The information is included in the National Statistics publication, which is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans. The data is only available at local authority level.

Students: Public Transport

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make and estimate of the number of domestic students commuting to university campuses in each of the last five years.

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of domestic students commuting to university campuses in each of the last five years.

Robert Halfon: The Office for Students Size and Provision dashboard offers the closest approximation of commuter students available. It shows the proportion of full-time undergraduate entrants (domestic and international) that were local to their higher education (HE) provider prior to entry has remained around one in four between 2018/19 and 2021/22. Number of students entering HE that were local to their HE provider prior to entryFull-time, undergraduate degrees onlyAll domicilesEnglish providers onlyAcademic yearNumber% (where home address and study location are known)2018/19127,49025.5%2019/20136,41025.8%2020/21148,94027.0%2021/22138,60025.4%Source: https://officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/size-and-shape-of-provision-data-dashboard/data-dashboard/.

Special Educational Needs

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether there has been a reduction in Education Health Care Plans at any of the Local Authorities in Tranche 1 and 2 of the Delivering Better Value in SEND Programme.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to implement a 20% reduction target for Education Health and Care Plans as part of the Delivering Better Value in SEND programme.

David Johnston: The department’s Delivering Better Value (DBV) programme has no targets to reduce the number of new Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans. Decisions about individual children and young people and whether they require EHC plans must be made on an individual basis, following the processes set out in the Children and Families Act 2014. The department is protecting every parent and family’s existing legal right to an EHC plan when they need one, and that will not change.The DBV programme is part of the wider reform work set out in detail in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan. DBV aims to put the SEND system on a more sustainable footing by funding system transformation in up to 55 local authorities with high dedicated schools grant deficits. It does so by providing diagnostic support to each local authority to engage with its stakeholders and identify opportunities to improve services and meet children’s needs at an early stage and with the right level of support.

Children: Social Services

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of providing early intervention services on the number of children that require EHCPs.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on introducing early intervention services for children without an education, health and care plan.

David Johnston: The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan, published March 2023, set out the department’s plans to deliver an inclusive system with improved, high-quality mainstream provision where children and young people have their needs identified early and can access prompt, evidence-based, targeted support. This will mean that more children and young people can have their needs met, without the need to rely on an Education, Health and Care plan to get the support they need. Our plan includes testing approaches to early intervention services through, for example, a Speech, Language and Communication Needs pilot, the Early Language Support for Every Child, co-funded with NHS England.

Faith Schools: Special Educational Needs

Marsha De Cordova: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies of the findings of the research paper entitled Serving their communities? The under-admission of children with disabilities and ‘special educational needs’ to ‘faith’ primary schools in England, published in the Oxford Review of Education on 2 October 2023.

David Johnston: The department is determined that all children and young people receive the support they need to benefit from their education and progress to the next stage of their lives.Children should be able to attend a school of their parents’ choice where possible. By law, all children with an Education Health and Care (EHC) Plan must be admitted to the school named in the Plan. A parent, carer, child or young person can request that a school designated as having a religious character (commonly known as a faith school) be named on an EHC Plan. Local authorities should do their best to accommodate such a request but should not name the school if it is unsuitable for the child’s age, ability, aptitude and special educational needs, or if naming the school would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education of other children or the efficient use of resources.Where a child with special educational needs does not have an EHC Plan, their parents will need to apply for a school place in the same way as for other children without an EHC Plan. Places must be allocated in accordance with the schools’ published admissions criteria, which are set by the admission authority for each school, but they must comply with the statutory School Admissions Code which exists to ensure that places are allocated in a fair and transparent manner.Admission authorities for schools designated as having a religious character may adopt admissions criteria which give priority to children of their faith, but they must offer a place to every applicant regardless of faith if there are sufficient places available. Free schools with a religious character may only allocate 50% of their places pupils by reference to faith in order to open up places to other children. Some other schools choose to limit the number of places they allocate with reference to faith, and many do not have faith admissions criteria at all.

Special Educational Needs

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2023 to Question 189672 on Special Educational Needs, when he plans to decide whether to issue additional guidance on school admission for summer born children with an Education, Health and Care Plan.

David Johnston: The department will be publishing additional guidance on school admission for summer born children with an Education, Health and Care Plan in due course.

Children in Care: Scotland

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department takes to monitor the number of children with home addresses in England that are placed in residential care in Scotland.

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children with primary family addresses in England are in residential care in Scotland as of 13 October 2023.

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) inspect residential care homes in Scotland where (i) referrals are made for children residing in England and (ii) children with primary home addresses in England are staying.

David Johnston: The department collects and publishes data on the number of children’s residential placements, including children placed in Scotland. The data is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/methodology/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions-methodology#content-section-4-content-5.Local authorities hold the responsibility for monitoring a child in residential care where they have legal responsibility for that child. Each child’s care, including contact and monitoring, is agreed and detailed in their individual care plan. All residential care homes are inspected, and this is the responsibility of the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, and Ofsted in England.

Basic Skills

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve rates of adult (a) literacy and (b) numeracy.

Robert Halfon: This government is committed to supporting people to climb the ladder of opportunity towards better jobs, better wellbeing and better options for the future.To enable this, the department recognises the importance of literacy and numeracy skills, both in work and everyday life. Securing good levels of literacy and numeracy increases individual productivity, improves earnings and employment opportunities, supports economic growth and breaks cycles of intergenerational economic and social disadvantage. That is why the department is continuing to support participation in English and maths provision through our ‘essential skills entitlements’ which provide the opportunity of free study for adults who do not have essential literacy and numeracy skills up to and including level 2.Learners can undertake a range of courses fully funded through the Adult Education Budget (AEB), including GCSEs, Functional Skills and other relevant qualifications from entry level to level 2.The department also supports training for adults in community settings through the AEB. Prioritised for disadvantaged learners, community learning can provide a 'stepping stone' for those adults who are not ready for formal accredited learning, or who would benefit from learning in a more informal way.The department is also delivering Multiply, the government’s programme for improving adult numeracy, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the government’s flagship fund for supporting people and places across the UK. Up to £270 million is directly available for local areas in England to deliver innovative interventions to improve adult numeracy.The free courses for jobs offer, which was launched in April 2021, gives eligible adults the chance to access high value level 3 qualification for free, which can support them to gain higher wages or a better job. The offer includes a number of qualifications in maths, for example a level 3 Certificate in Mathematical Studies.In addition, Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills, with an offer of a job interview with an employer on completion. Skills Bootcamps are available in a variety of skill areas, including digital, technical, construction, logistics (HGV driving), and skills that support the green economy.The department is scaling up Skills Bootcamps delivery to 64,000 starts by the 2024/25 financial year through national procurement and grant funding to 28 Mayoral Combined Authorities and local areas.

Higher Education: Mental Health Services

George Eustice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Higher Education leaders responded to the letter from the Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education to all Higher Education leaders of 5 June 2023.

George Eustice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the letter from the Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education to all Higher Education leaders of 5 June 2023, how many Universities have signed up to the University Mental Health Charter Programme since the date of that letter.

George Eustice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the letter from the Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education to all Higher Education leaders of 5 June 2023, what proportion of the university leaders that he wrote to (a) attended and (b) sent a delegate to the online Charter Question and Answer session on 19 June 2023.

Robert Halfon: It is a priority for this government that students are provided with the mental health support they need. We are taking an approach based on three pillars:Funding vital services and innovative projects via the Office for Students, with £15 million allocated for the 2022/23 academic year to support students starting university for the first time and enable effective partnerships between higher education (HE) providers and local NHS services. £3.6 million was invested to launch Student Space in 2020 which has since provided nearly 3000,000 students with free online mental health resources and confidential support.Spreading and implementing best practice consistently across providers.Clear responsibilities for providers and protection for students, with solutions developed by the Student Support Champion, Professor Edward Peck.On 5 June 2023, the department wrote to all HE providers asking for their strongest possible commitment to the mental health of our students, including by showing ownership of mental health at an executive level. We set a target for universities to sign up to Student Minds’ University Mental Health Charter by September 2024 so that they take a whole-university approach to mental health and wellbeing and follow the principles set out in the Charter.Student Minds ran two Q&A sessions for universities considering joining the University Mental Health Charter Programme. The session on 16 of June had 68 attendees. The session on 18 of June had 53 attendees.61 universities had joined the Programme by the 2022/23 academic year. Following my letter and the Q&A sessions, a significant number of universities applied during the summer 2023 application window. The department can confirm the Programme now has 96 members for the 2023/24 academic year, which represents excellent progress towards the target in a short amount of time. The full list of members can be found here: https://hub.studentminds.org.uk/charter-programme-members-23-24/.The department also had a good response on the back of my letter, with nine HE providers writing back. I continue to raise the value of Charter Programme membership with universities and sector representatives and will be hosting a roundtable on the mental health of students with university leaders later this year.Going further, the Higher Education Mental Health Taskforce is looking at the adoption of best practice on higher mental health more broadly. With leadership from Professor Edward Peck, it includes representatives from students, parents, mental health experts and the HE sector. It will deliver a final report by May 2024.

Childcare

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support parents of primary-aged children with childcare outside of school hours.

David Johnston: The government is investing £289 million in a new wraparound childcare programme to support local authorities to work with primary schools and providers, including childminders, to set up and deliver more wraparound childcare before and after school in the term time. The government’s ambition is for all parents of primary school children who need it, to access childcare in their local area from 8am to 6pm. Successfully meeting this objective will go some way to ensuring that parents have enough childcare to work full time, more hours and more flexible hours.Parents will still be expected to pay to access this provision, but support with costs will be available to eligible parents through Universal Credit childcare and Tax-Free Childcare.Parents should expect to see an expansion in the availability of wraparound care from September 2024, with every parent who needs it able to access term-time wraparound childcare by September 2026.The department is also providing over £200 million a year for the continuation of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, with all local authorities in England delivering the programme in the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays. The HAF programme provides heathy meals, enriching activities and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning. In summer 2022, the programme reached around 600,000 children across England, including over 475,000 children eligible for free school meals across England. The department is working to ensure that the creation of new or expanded wraparound childcare provision can also help to support the delivery of sustainable holiday childcare provision, wherever possible.

Department of Health and Social Care

NHS: Health Visitors

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many health visitors are employed by the NHS; and how many were employed on 1 September 2010.

Will Quince: The number of health visitors working in National Health Service trusts and other core organisations in England is published monthly by NHS England as part of their NHS Workforce Statistics Collection. The data can be found in the nurses by setting table at the following link:https://files.digital.nhs.uk/A7/641198/NHS%20Workforce%20Statistics%2C%20June%202023%20England%20Provisional%20statistics.xlsxThe data includes staff employed by NHS trusts and commissioning bodies, but excludes staff directly employed by primary care, general practitioner surgeries, local authorities, and other providers such as community interest companies and private providers.Local authorities have been responsible for commissioning health visiting services since 2015. These services may be commissioned from NHS trusts as well as other providers.

Migraines

Elliot Colburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the (a) impact of migraines on levels of economic inactivity and (b) potential impact of reducing migraine diagnosis times on levels of economic inactivity.

Will Quince: To reduce the time taken to diagnose conditions such as migraines, NHS England has published a delivery plan for recovering access to primary care. As part of this plan, the National Health Service will deliver on the commitment of 26,000 more direct patient care staff and 50 million more appointments in general practice by March 2024.To step up our focus on tackling rising economic inactivity due to long-term sickness, including those living with migraine, the Government announced a further wide-reaching package at the Spring Budget to support disabled people and people with health conditions to work.  Initiatives include a work coach support for disabled people and people with health conditions, as well as introducing a new supported employment programme (Universal Support) which focuses on providing faster access to joined-up work and health support.The Department does not hold specific information on the impact of migraines on levels of economic activity.

Autism and Learning Disability: Community Care

Sir Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2023 to Question 183773 on Autism and Learning Disability: Community Care, what analysis his Department undertook to identify the £121 million of funding allocation for the Building the right support programme in the 2023-24 financial year; and what estimate he has made of funding requirements for subsequent financial years.

Maria Caulfield: The £121 million of funding to improve community support for people with a learning disability and autistic people forms part of the wider NHS Long Term Plan (LTP) funding. The £121m allocation in 2023/24 was determined based upon consideration of the following:NHS England priorities for people with a learning disability and autistic people as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan published 2019; andEnsuring that national investment supported all the priorities within the agreed national programme allocation for 2023/24. Additionally, the following table shows a distribution to integrated care boards on a ‘fair shares’ basis, in line with the LTP trajectory for the learning disability and autism programme, increasing year on year up to the end of the LTP funding cycle: Financial Year2020/21 (£)2021/22 (£)2022/23 (£)2023/24 (£)Community/CYP Keyworkers18,00039,00069,000119,000HOPE(S)1,0002,0002,0002,000Total19,00041,00071,000121,000 Note: HOPE(S) is a training model commissioned by NHS England, which aims to embed good practice across inpatient services and reduce the use of long-term segregation and restrictive practices for people with a learning disability and autistic people. Funding for 2024/25 will be confirmed in due course.

Surgery: Waiting Lists

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many unique users accessed the My Planned Care platform in each of the last 12 months.

Will Quince: The following table shows the number of users who have accessed the My Planned Care platform in each of the last 12 months:DateUsers per Month19 Oct - 18 Nov 202267,04019 Nov - 18 Dec 202257,35719 Dec - 18 Jan 202375,06719 Jan - 18 Feb 202388,33119 Feb - 18 Mar 202384,13219 Mar - 18 Apr 202386,88119 Apr - 18 May 202392,57719 May - 18 Jun 202387,57519 Jun - 18 Jul 202386,80119 Jul - 18 Aug 202395,19319 Aug – 18 Sep 202391,36219 Sep – 18 Oct 2023103,517Total users1,015,833

NHS: Software

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he expects the integration of the My Planned Care platform with the NHS app to be delivered.

Will Quince: My Planned Care is a web-based platform that provides waiting time data by speciality and National Health Service trust, for both first outpatient appointment and treatment. It is available to all, including patients, carers, voluntary sector organisations, patient organisations, Patient Advice and Liaison Service hospital teams and general practices.The NHS App provides secure access to a range of NHS services including a user’s medical record, the ability to order repeat prescriptions and to book or manage appointments.

School Milk

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to provide healthy alternatives to cows' milk under the Nursery Milk Scheme for children who cannot consume cow’s milk for (a) medical, (b) ethical and (c) religious reasons.

Neil O'Brien: A Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition/Committee on Toxicity working group has been established to jointly consider the nutritional and toxicological aspects associated with the consumption of plant-based alternatives to milk, such as soya, almond and oat drinks. The Government will consider the position on the Nursery Milk Scheme once this working group has reported.

Smoking: Health Services

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2023 to Question 197002 on Tobacco: support for stop smoking services, whether he plans to expand the scope of the swap to stop scheme to include licensed (a) nicotine replacement therapies and (b) stop smoking medicines.

Neil O'Brien: There are no current plans to expand the Swap to Stop programme to include nicotine replacement therapies or stop smoking medicines, as they are already routinely provided by local Stop Smoking Services.The Swap to Stop programme has been developed to provide smokers with more choice by providing the option of accessing free vapes to support quit attempts, in addition to the existing offer. This programme includes expert support provided by local Stop Smoking Services.Stop Smoking Services continue to enable smokers to access a combination of behavioural support from a trained advisor as well as medicines and medicinally licensed nicotine replacement therapy for up to 12 weeks.

NHS Trusts: Buildings

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will provide a list of NHS trusts that have indicated since May 2023 that they have possible reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) at any of their sites; and if he will outline which of those have since had the presence of RAAC visually confirmed.

Will Quince: The Department has published a full list of hospitals with confirmed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) on GOV.UK. This list sets out which sites have had RAAC confirmed since May 2023, and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-in-hospitals-management-informationNHS England has issued guidance for trusts nationally on how to establish the presence of RAAC in their estate. There is ongoing engagement with trusts on a national and regional level to ensure RAAC is identified across the National Health Service estate.Where possible RAAC is identified at additional sites, visual inspections and structural surveys take place to verify its presence and risk category. Once the presence of RAAC is confirmed, trusts join the national RAAC programme, which supports mitigation, remediation, and wider planning to maintain safety. Each site will be different, and just because RAAC is present, it does not necessarily mean there is a high risk.

Hospitals: South Yorkshire

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of whether any hospitals in South Yorkshire contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Will Quince: The National Health Service has been surveying sites and undertaking reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) mitigation work since 2019 and has issued guidance for trusts nationally on how to establish the presence of RAAC in their estate. There is ongoing engagement with trusts on a national and regional level to ensure RAAC is identified across the NHS estate.The Department has published a full list of hospitals with confirmed RAAC on GOV.UK, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-in-hospitals-management-informationAs of 17 October, there is one hospital in South Yorkshire with confirmed RAAC, Barnsley Hospital. The trust has joined the national RAAC programme.Where structural surveys identify RAAC in their estate, trusts are inducted into the national programme. Each site will be different, and just because RAAC is present, it does not necessarily mean there is a high risk.

Health Services: Diagnosis

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many diagnostic tests that had to be repeated in each of the last 12 months.

Will Quince: The data requested is not routinely reported by NHS England. NHS England is not currently able to differentiate between the repetition of tests for monitoring purposes, and the repeating of initial diagnostic tests.

NHS: Staff

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase NHS staff workforce resilience.

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of NHS staff workforce resilience.

Will Quince: No assessment has been made of the adequacy of staff workforce resilience in the National Health Service. The NHS People Plan and NHS People Promise published in July 2020 sets out a comprehensive range of actions that focusses on making the NHS a better place to work, helping increase staff resilience and improving retention.Building on the work of the NHS People Plan and People Promise, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, published in June 2023, sets out the importance of ensuring we keep more of the staff we have within the health service. This will be achieved by supporting people through their careers, boosting the flexibilities we offer staff to work in ways that suit them and work for patients and ensuring access to health and wellbeing support. We also need to continue to improve the culture and leadership across NHS organisations.Investment in health and wellbeing is vitally important in helping staff resilience. NHS England has developed a range of health and wellbeing initiatives which include a health and wellbeing guardian role, a focus on healthy working environments, empowering line managers to hold meaningful conversations with staff to discuss their wellbeing, and a comprehensive emotional and psychological health and wellbeing support package.NHS England has also published a ‘Growing Occupational Health and Wellbeing Together’ strategy. This sets out a roadmap for the NHS and partner organisations to work together to develop and invest in occupational health and wellbeing services for NHS staff over the next five years.

Radiology: Telemedicine

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what percentage of teleradiology companies used by the NHS are based outside the UK.

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of NHS radiologists also conducted scans for external teleradiology companies in each of the last three years.

Will Quince: The data requested is not held centrally.

Defibrillators: Disadvantaged

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking to steps to help increase public access to defibrillators in areas of deprivation with a high incidence of cardiac arrest.

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure equal access to defibrillators across the country.

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that public access defibrillators are registered on The Circuit.

Will Quince: The Government’s £1 million Community Automated External Defibrillators (AED) fund will provide an estimated 1,000 new defibrillators across England, with the potential for this to double as successful applicants will be asked to match the funding they receive partially or fully.As of 22 September 2022, community organisations can now apply for a grant to fund an AED for their local area. Applications for funding will be submitted to Smarter Society and the London Hearts Charity, who will assess each application, ensuring that each AED is installed in areas where there is a clear need for the device such as high footfall areas or rural locations with extended ambulance response times. Priority will be given to applications that are considered a cardiac health hotspot with high levels of deprivation and low numbers of AEDs.All AEDs granted by the fund must be registered on The Circuit, which is the British Heart Foundation’s national defibrillator database.

York Hospital: Repairs and Maintenance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the maintenance of York Hospital buildings and estate.

Will Quince: The National Health Service publishes the annual Estates Returns Information Collection, which includes detailed information on the NHS estate. Individual NHS trusts are responsible for providing the data for the Estates Returns Information Collection and ensuring the accuracy of their returns.In 2021/22, £0.6 million was invested in backlog maintenance at York Hospital by York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The following table shows the estimated cost to address levels of backlog maintenance reported by York & Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at York Hospital.YearCost to eradicate backlog maintenance at York Hospital2013/14£24.0m2014/15£24.0m2015/16£26.5m2016/17£25.2m2017/18£27.3m2018/19£3.7m2019/20£10.6m2020/21£10.3m2021/22£9.7m

Cervical Cancer: Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with local health trusts in Northern Ireland on waiting lists for smear tests.

Maria Caulfield: We have had no direct discussions with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland or local health trusts on the waiting list for smear tests.

Members: Correspondence

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to reply to the letters of (a) 21 August and (b) 19 September 2023 from the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare on the availability of Ethypharm.

Will Quince: I replied to the hon. Member on 2 October 2023.

Hospitals: Concrete

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total number of hospitals is which will have all reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete removed from their buildings under the New Hospitals programme.

Will Quince: There are seven hospitals with confirmed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) that require a full replacement. In May 2023 the Government announced that they will be rebuilt through the New Hospital Programme (NHP) by 2030.As of 17 October 2023, there are 42 hospital sites with confirmed RAAC. This number includes the seven hospitals that will be fully rebuilt through the NHP. All hospitals with confirmed RAAC are in NHS England’s ongoing national RAAC programme. This is backed by significant additional funding of £698 million from 2021 to 2025 for trusts to put in place necessary remediation and failsafe measures.The Department has published a full list of hospitals with confirmed RAAC, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-in-hospitals-management-informationWhere structural surveys identify RAAC in their estate, trusts are inducted into the national remediation programme. Each site will be different, and just because RAAC is present, it does not necessarily mean there is a high risk.

NHS Digital: Training

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much NHS Digital spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-23 financial year.

Will Quince: NHS Digital commissioned and completed one piece of corporate equality and diversity training in 2022/23, at a cost of £15,700.

Health Education England: Training

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much Health Education England spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-23 financial year.

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much NHS England spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-23 financial year.

Will Quince: NHS England spent £64,200 on equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) training in the 2022/23 financial year.Health Education England (HEE) has now legally merged with NHS England. HEE did not hold a cost figure in a centrally retrievable format for equality, diversity, and inclusion training. Staff training on EDI was primarily delivered internally by HEE’s EDI team, and therefore spending on training was incorporated within the team’s wider budget and spend. In 2022/23, HEE’s spend on activities related to EDI, including training, was £170,951.

Hospitals: Concrete

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hospitals outside of those included in the New Hospital Programme have been identified to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete; and whether his Department plans to fund emergency mitigation works to those hospitals.

Will Quince: As of 17 October 2023, there are 42 hospital sites with confirmed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). Of these, seven are in the New Hospital Programme and will be fully replaced by 2030. All hospital sites with confirmed RAAC are in NHS England’s ongoing national RAAC programme. This is backed by significant additional funding of £698 million from 2021 to 2025 for trusts to put in place necessary remediation and failsafe measures. National funding is allocated annually based on National Health Service trust plans and delivery progress.The Department has published a full list of hospitals with confirmed RAAC, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-in-hospitals-management-informationWhere structural surveys identify RAAC in their estate, trusts are inducted into the national remediation programme. Each site will be different, and just because RAAC is present, it does not necessarily mean there is a high risk.

Hospitals: Concrete

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will place a list of all NHS hospitals in England that require reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete mitigation in the House of Commons Library.

Will Quince: The Department has published a full list of hospitals with confirmed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-in-hospitals-management-informationNHS England has issued guidance for trusts nationally on how to establish the presence of RAAC in their estate. There is ongoing engagement with trusts on a national and regional level to ensure RAAC is identified across the NHS estate. Where possible RAAC is identified at additional sites, visual inspections and structural surveys take place to verify its presence and risk category. Once the presence of RAAC is confirmed, trusts join the national RAAC programme, which supports mitigation, remediation, and wider planning to maintain safety.Each site will be different, and just because RAAC is present, it does not necessarily mean there is a high risk.

Hospitals: Concrete

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an estimate of the capital cost of (a) mitigating against the risks posed by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in hospitals in the short term and (b) removal of all RAAC in hospitals by 2035.

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on installing remediation and failsafe measures at NHS sites in England at risk from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete since 2021.

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of NHS trusts have remediation measures in place to mitigate structural insecurities caused by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Will Quince: Extensive building survey works have been conducted by National Health Service trusts to identify the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in their fabric, using technology to record potential issues and visually identify and log potential risks.As of 17 October 2023, there are 42 hospital sites with confirmed RAAC. Of these, 18 have been identified since May 2023 following updated monitoring guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers. The Department has published a full list of hospitals with confirmed RAAC, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-in-hospitals-management-informationIn addition to the 42 confirmed hospital sites, three further sites have entirely eradicated previously confirmed instances of RAAC and have therefore left the programme.The NHS has a comprehensive mitigation plan in place for hospital buildings with RAAC, including significant additional funding worth £698 million from 2021 to 2025 for trusts to put in place necessary remediation and failsafe measures. NHS hospital trusts were allocated £209 million in 2022/23 and £115 million in 2021/22. Funding is allocated based on NHS trust plans and delivery progress.We have committed to eradicating RAAC from the publicly owned NHS estate by 2035, protecting patient and staff safety in the interim period, with the NHS approaching this on a risk basis and prioritising NHS trusts of concern. The estimated cost of full eradication through to 2035 will change over time due to several factors and will be considered at each spending review.Where structural surveys identify RAAC in their estate, trusts are inducted into the national remediation programme. Each site will be different, and just because RAAC is present, it does not necessarily mean there is a high risk.

Hospitals: Concrete

Feryal Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hospitals were built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Will Quince: As of 17 October 2023, there are 42 hospital sites with confirmed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). Of these, 18 have been identified since May 2023 following updated monitoring guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers. The Department has published a full list of hospitals with confirmed RAAC, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-in-hospitals-management-informationIn most identified cases, RAAC has been found in limited parts of a hospital site or an individual building. The National Health Service has a comprehensive mitigation plan in place for hospital buildings with RAAC, including significant additional funding worth £698 million from 2021 to 2025 for trusts to put in place necessary remediation and failsafe measures. In addition, in May 2023 the Government announced that the seven most affected hospitals would be replaced by 2030 through the New Hospital Programme.Where structural surveys identify RAAC in their estate, trusts are inducted into the national remediation programme. Each site will be different, and just because RAAC is present, it does not necessarily mean there is a high risk.

Cancer: Young People

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve data reporting on the (a) outcomes and (b) experiences of young people with cancer.

Will Quince: The Department is taking steps, along with other organisations, to better understand data on outcomes and experiences of young people with cancer.On the data reporting of outcomes, the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS) collects, quality assures and analyses data on all people living in England who are diagnosed with cancer, including young people.This data is used to measure diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for patients diagnosed with cancer. The data held by NCRAS supports service provision and commissioning in the National Health Service, clinical audits, and public health and epidemiological research, all of which contribute to improved outcomes for those diagnosed with cancer.The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey, commissioned by NHS England, aims to understand the experiences of cancer care across England, for all patients aged 16 years old or over. This has surveyed patients annually since 2010.In addition, the Under 16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey, commissioned by NHS England, is now in its second year and aims to gather feedback from children and young people and their parents/carers on the cancer care and treatment received.These surveys provide valuable findings, helping the NHS to understand what is good about children, young people’s and adults’ cancer care, and identifying areas for improvements.

Cancer: Young People

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the Major Conditions Strategy reflects the (a) views and (b) needs of people with lived experience of cancer as a young adult.

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the Major Conditions Strategy will take into account the (a) care and (b) support needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer.

Will Quince: Cancer is a priority for this Government and the Department continues to take steps to demonstrate this. Childhood, young people’s and young adults’ cancers are included within the Department’s Major Conditions Strategy, which tackles contributions contributing most to morbidity and mortality.While the Department cannot pre-empt its outcomes, the Major Conditions Strategy’s final report scheduled for early 2024 will draw on previous work, including submissions from childhood, young people and young adults’ cancer charities and stakeholders in response to our calls for evidence on cancer and on major conditions. The emphasis is on earlier diagnosis, better support to manage conditions, and improved coordination of treatment and care.The Department is engaging with several stakeholders in the development of the Major Conditions Strategy including organisations that represent the needs and care of people with lived experience of cancer.

Brain: Tumours

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the APPG on Brain Tumours' report entitled Pathway to A Cure, whether his Department plans to implement a joint strategy for brain tumour research with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; and if he will make a statement.

Will Quince: The Department welcomes the All-Party Parliamentary Group report, recommendations of which continue to be worked through with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, UK Research and Innovation and the Medical Research Council (MRC), and with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).The report recommended action by the research funding agencies on coordinating activities and making funding available. We are taking steps to ensure that funders work closely together to coordinate work along the translational pathway, from the discovery and early translational science typically supported by the MRC, feeding through to the applied health and care research funded by the NIHR.It is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. As with other Government funders of health research, the NIHR does not allocate funding for specific disease areas. The level of research spend in a particular area, is driven by factors including scientific potential and the number and scale of successful funding applications.

NHS: Training

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that NHS staff are trained to provide high-quality care for people living with (a) Parkinson’s and (b) other conditions.

Will Quince: Individual employers are responsible for ensuring their staff are trained and competent to carry out their role. Regulated healthcare professionals need to meet the standards of education and training set by the relevant professional regulator. The regulators set and enforce the standards that their registrants must adhere to and are responsible for ensuring that healthcare professionals have the necessary skills and knowledge to join the register.NHS England has published a RightCare toolkit which aims to address challenges in providing services for those with progressive neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease by highlighting key areas of focus and actions to take. This includes actions to ensure that services are equipped with appropriate skills to identify, assess, and manage progressive long-term neurological conditions.

Brain: Injuries

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the Acquired Brain Injury Strategy.

Will Quince: We expect to publish the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Strategy next year. We remain fully committed to publishing the Strategy so people living with ABI have the best quality of life and outcomes.

Brain: Tumours

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the APPG on Brain Tumours' report entitled Pathway to A Cure, whether his Department has taken steps to implement that report's recommendations on engaging healthcare professionals with research.

Will Quince: The Department welcomes the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) report, recommendations of which continue to be worked through with the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, UK Research and Innovation and the Medical Research Council (MRC), and with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). In February 2023 the APPG report recommended that NIHR and UKRI should build research capacity, encouraging and retaining talent through fellowships and research incentives. In July 2023, NIHR jointly funded with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM), the first two TJBCM Neuro-Oncology Fellowships, a new Fellowship Programme to support high quality training in neuro-oncology clinical practice and research to ensure clinicians are equipped with the relevant research skills needed to lead neuro-oncology trials that change practice. Other capacity-building initiatives underway include: the designation of 28 TJBCM adult Centres of Excellence within the National Health Service, creating a world-class network of brain tumour treatment and research centres to provide the best care and share best practice; the Tessa Jowell Academy Programme, a free national learning and networking digital platform for NHS brain tumour professionals to share excellence in research, treatment and care; and the TJBCM Brain Tumour Research Novel Therapeutics Accelerator programme, to review and provide guidance on the translation and development of novel treatments, guided by a multidisciplinary international group of experts. The NIHR is continuing to work with the TJBCM to develop further capacity-building initiatives.

NHS: Interpreters

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the use of unregistered interpreters in the NHS on maternity outcomes.

Maria Caulfield: It is the responsibility of trusts to provide services that meet the needs of their local populations, paying particular attention to health inequalities. This includes ensuring access to interpreter services as set out in the three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services. NHS England commissions the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme to undertake reviews of adverse outcomes in maternity and neonatal services. These reviews consider whether interpreting services may have had an impact upon outcome.

UK Health Security Agency: Training

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the UK Health Security Agency spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-23 financial year.

Maria Caulfield: The UK Health Security Agency did not spend any funds on bespoke equality and diversity training in 2022/23. However, equality, diversity and inclusion themes and messages are reflected appropriately in all learning programmes designed, procured, and delivered by the agency.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Training

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-23 financial year.

Maria Caulfield: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that its spend on equality and diversity training in 2022/23 was £7,920.

Protective Clothing

Matt Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to stockpile personal protective equipment for potential future pandemics.

Matt Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many items of what sort of personal protective equipment he plans to stockpile for future pandemics; and what account he has taken of previous experience in deciding levels and sorts of such equipment.

Maria Caulfield: The Department is committed to learning lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and has sought expert advice on personal protective equipment products that should be held, or otherwise contracted for, to support the United Kingdom’s preparedness for future pandemic and emerging infectious disease threats.

NHS: Interpreters

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the prevalence of the use of unregistered interpreters in the NHS.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department issues guidance to NHS trusts on the qualifications required for interpreters working in the NHS.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to help ensure that interpreters used by the NHS are on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters.

Neil O'Brien: We have not made a specific assessment as the Department does not make policy in relation to interpretation services in the National Health Service. This also includes issuing guidance to NHS trusts on the qualifications required for interpreters and their registration on the National Register of Public Service Interpreters.The Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Team in NHS England is completing a scoping and options review of the most effective and appropriate national interventions to facilitate improvements in community language translation and interpretation services to meet the needs of communities and support equitable access, experience and outcomes for all. NHS England aims to agree recommendations in March 2024.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Planning

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to publish the revised National Planning Policy Framework.

Rachel Maclean: I refer the Hon Member to my answer to Question UIN 198358 on 14 September 2023.

Investment Zones

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent steps his Department has taken to develop policy relating to Investment Zones.

Jacob Young: Since publication of the policy prospectus in March, officials have been working in partnership with the eight places in England named at Spring Budget to co-develop their Investment Zone proposals. Further guidance on the co-development process, outcomes framework and wider criteria proposals need to meet was published in the Technical Document in July.Further to the answer to Question UIN 189556 on 22 June 2023, the Government is working with the devolved administrations to deliver Investment Zones. In Scotland, Glasgow City Region and North East of Scotland were announced as Investment Zones in June. Discussions on how Investment Zones could be delivered in Wales are on-going.

Social Rented Housing: Mould

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing specific funding to social housing providers to eradicate damp and mould in properties.

Jacob Young: Social housing providers must meet the Decent Homes Standard, which includes the requirement to keep properties free from dangerous damp and mould. The Government has been clear that they should be able to meet this standard based on the rent settlement (rental income across the sector exceeded £21 billion in 2021-22), and must prioritise repairs when making funding decisions. Government is also providing capital funding to help social landlords meet the costs of carrying out building safety remediation and making their homes more energy efficient, to support the delivery of new affordable housing as well as a £30 million fund for Greater Manchester and the West Midlands to support improvements in the quality of social housing in their area with a focus on damp and mould.We are reviewing the Decent Homes Standard. We also introduced Awaab's Law into the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, committing to set strict time limits for social landlords to investigate and repair significant hazards in their homes, including damp and mould.We will consult on the details of Awaab's Law shortly. The Government also published consolidated damp and mould guidance in September, setting out clearly for landlords and other housing professionals the health risks associated with damp and mould.

Housing: Health

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on creating healthy homes.

Jacob Young: The Government recognises the important issue of creating healthy homes. The principles of healthy homes, as currently being debated in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, are already being considered and addressed by existing laws, systems, policy and guidance. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.

Council Housing and Public Buildings: Mould

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to help tackle the prevalence of black mould in (a) public buildings and (b) council accommodation (i) nationwide and (ii) in Romford constituency.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to help tackle the prevalence of rodents in (a) public buildings and (b) council accommodation (i) nationwide and (ii) in Romford constituency.

Jacob Young: Everyone deserves to live and work in a decent and safe environment - one that is free from hazards such as black mould and rodents. This is why we have committed to reduce the number of non-decent rented homes by 50% by 2030.All landlords are required to keep their homes free of category 1 hazards, as defined by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). This includes hazards relating to mould and pests. Social landlords are also required to ensure their homes meet the requirements set out in the Decent Homes Standard.On damp and mould, this summer, along with the Department of Health and Social Care, we issued guidance for landlords and tenants on tacking damp and mould.

Parking: Fees and Charges

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department issues guidance to private car parks on the signage of parking charges.

Jacob Young: The department is responsible for off street parking and is currently implementing the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, which includes the development of an independent Code of Practice for private parking companies.

Business Rates: Birmingham

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what support he is offering Birmingham City Council to help maximise business rate retention.

Lee Rowley: Through the Trailblazer devolution deal with the West Midlands Combined Authority, the Government has agreed to 10 years of 100 per cent business rates retention arrangements in Birmingham from 2024-25, offering certainty in funding over the longer term to support economic growth.

Public Sector: Contracts

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has issued guidance to local authorities on whether public service contracts of under £100,000 may be issued on a short-term, temporary basis when there is a gap in services.

Lee Rowley: Local authorities are bound by the Public Contract Regulations 2015 which encourages free and open competition and value for money and they are also encouraged to follow guidance from the Cabinet Office on these matters such as the Sourcing Playbook.

Local Government: Elections

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential fiscal merits of requiring all local elections in England to be conducted on the same day every four years.

Lee Rowley: The Government has not made any such assessment as the costs of local elections are met locally. Holding whole council elections every four years can strengthen local leadership and enhance accountability.

Planning Inspectorate: Remote Hearings

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effectiveness of virtual examination hearings conducted by the Planning Inspectorate.

Rachel Maclean: The Planning Inspectorate continues to run both in-person and virtual (or “digital”) events, as well as using a combination of these options to run so-called “blended” events. These apply to Local Plan examination hearings, Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project examination sessions and planning appeal hearings and inquiries.   The Planning Inspectorate has undertaken various pieces of work, formal and informal, to assess the effectiveness of virtual (or “digital”) public events. These have included research by the Royal Town Planning Institute (September 2021) as well as surveys of customers, from Local Planning Authorities to members of the public, and Planning Inspectors during 2020.

City of Durham Parish Council: Planning

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether City of Durham Parish Council is a statutory consultee on planning matters.

Rachel Maclean: Provisions in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 allow Parish Councils to request, in writing, that the local planning authority notify them of any applications for planning permission in their parish which they specify.

Repossession Orders

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the time period during which landlords cannot apply mandatory grounds for repossession of the property beyond the first six months of the tenancy in the Renters (Reform) Bill.

Rachel Maclean: I refer the Hon Member to the Renters (Reform) Bill Second Reading, debated on Monday 23 October (Official Report, HC Volume 738, Colum 630).

Planning Permission: Noise

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what advice his Department provides to local councils on planning applications for potentially noisy sites.

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of locating high-capacity batteries near residential communities on the adequacy of levels of (a) noise pollution and (b) community safety.

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what advice his Department provides to local councils on balancing community concerns with developer proposals.

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has had recent discussions with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council on planning applications for high-capacity battery storage.

Rachel Maclean: The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that the planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by preventing both new and existing development from contributing to unacceptable levels of noise pollution. Local authorities should consider the use of planning conditions to mitigate and reduce to a minimum adverse impact on health and quality of life arising from noise from new development.Government officials have been working to address potential safety and environmental impacts of battery energy storage system (BESS) sites. This includes recent updates to planning practice guidance, which encourages battery storage developers to engage with local fire and rescue services and local planning authorities to refer to the guidance published by the National Chiefs Fire Council. This ensures that matters relating to the siting and location of battery energy storage systems can be considered before an application is made.With regard to any meetings between the Secretary of State and Rotheram Metropolitan Borough Council, I hope that you will appreciate that the Secretary of State's role in the planning system means that he cannot comment on any development proposal and neither can I comment on his behalf.

Affordable Housing: Standards

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the capacity of delivery agencies for delivering the aims of the Affordable Homes Programme.

Rachel Maclean: We regularly review resourcing requirements with our delivery partners - Homes England and the Greater London Authority - on the Affordable Homes Programme.

Homes England: Correspondence

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an estimate of the average response time for enquiries to Home England.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many Homes England Investment Partners for the Affordable Homes Programme have filed for insolvency.

Rachel Maclean: The department expects Homes England to respond to all enquiries in good time, in keeping with the targets they set for their performance. While we oversee Homes England's performance overall, it is for the Homes England executive team and Board to manage operational performance including the timeframes for responding to enquiries and requests.

Shared Ownership Schemes: Energy

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the impact of energy costs on the purchase of shared ownership extra care schemes.

Rachel Maclean: All shared ownership applicants must complete an affordability assessment with an independent, accredited financial adviser before completing their purchase. This assessment is designed to establish the size of share that the applicant should purchase and to ensure that they have the financial resources necessary to meet their ongoing housing costs over the long term.   Energy prices have come down 23% since their peak and the Government spent around £40 billion to cover around half a household's typical bill last winter, plus extra targeted support for older and disabled people. We are still providing extra support for those who need it most.

Rough Sleeping

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an estimate of how much and what proportion of the £2 billion funding allocated under his Department's strategy entitled Ending rough sleeping for good has been disbursed; and on what projects.

Felicity Buchan: I refer the Hon Member to my answer to Question UIN 194658 on 4 September 2023.

Homelessness: Temporary Accommodation

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if his Department will produce guidance for local authorities on spending on emergency homeless dispersal accommodation.

Felicity Buchan: We are providing in excess of £1 billion over three years through the Homelessness Prevention Grant to support local authorities to deliver their statutory homelessness duties. There is guidance on what local authorities are required to do in relation to their statutory homelessness duties in the Homelessness Code of Guidance..

Ministry of Justice

Legal Aid Scheme: Advisory Services

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Section 2.4 of the guidance for Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service providers published by the Legal Aid Agency on 1 August 2023, how many requests for assistance were submitted by service providers to the Specialist Legal Advice Support Panel between 1 August 2023 and 18 October 2023.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Section 4.1 of the guidance for Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service providers published by the Legal Aid Agency on 1 August 2023, how many Matter Starts were (a) awarded to each contracted provider at the outset of the scheme and (b) awarded at the outset of the scheme in total; and how many additional Matter Starts have been requested as of 18 October.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Section 4.2 of the guidance for Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service providers published by the Legal Aid Agency on 1 August 2023, how many In Court Duty acts of assistance (a) were awarded to contracted providers at the outset of the scheme and (b) on top of that number allocated, have been requested by contracted providers as of 18 October 2023.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Section 5 of the guidance for Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service providers published by the Legal Aid Agency on 1 August 2023, how many Contact Report Forms were submitted to his Department between (a) 1 and 10 August inclusive, (b) 11 August and 10 September inclusive and (c) 11 September and 10 October inclusive.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Section 5 of the guidance for Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service providers published by the Legal Aid Agency on 1 August 2023, what the total (a) volume and (b) value of claims arising from provision of early advice was, according to the Contact Report Forms submitted to his Department between (a) 1 and 10 August inclusive, (b) 11 August and 10 September inclusive and (c) 11 September and 10 October inclusive.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to section 5 of the Legal Aid Agency's guidance entitled Housing loss prevention advice service: guidance for service providers, published on 1 August 2023, what the total (a) volume and (b) value of claims from provision of in court duty assistance through contact report forms submitted to his Department were between (i) 1 and 10 August, (ii) 11 August and 10 September and (iii) 11 September and 10 October 2023 inclusive.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to section 5 of the Legal Aid Agency's guidance entitled Housing loss prevention advice service: guidance for service providers, published on 1 August 2023, how much has been paid out to service providers from their provision of (a) early advice and (b) in court duty assistance as of 18 October 2023.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Annex 2 of the Legal Aid Agency's guidance entitled Housing loss prevention advice service: guidance for service providers, published on 1 August 2023, how many early legal advice claim forms submitted to his Department between 1 August and 18 October 2023 have been filled in with the outcome codes (a) LT and (b) LU.

Mike Freer: On 01 August 2023, the new Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS) commenced across England and Wales. The service provides early legal advice on housing, debt and welfare benefits issues to those at risk of possession proceedings and loss of their home; and on the day emergency advice and representation at court to those with a listed possession hearing.Individuals who require the above service do not need to meet legal aid financial eligibility rules as the service is not means tested, however, they will be required to show evidence that they are at risk of losing of their home. Up to £10m in annual funding has been made available for HLPAS.Between 01 August and 18 October 2023, 42 requests for assistance have been submitted by service providers to the Specialist Legal Advice Support Panel.The number of Matter Starts awarded to each HLPAS provider at the outset of the scheme can be found in the table annexed to this response. A combined total of 16,326 Matter Starts were awarded at the outset of the scheme. As of 18 October, no additional Matter Starts have been requested.The number of In Court Duty acts of assistance awarded to each HLPAS provider at the outset of the scheme can be found in the table annexed to this response. A combined total of 43,074 acts of assistance were awarded at the outset of the scheme. As of 18 October, no additional acts of assistance have been requested.All Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service work (including any work undertaken by agents) must be reported to the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) on the HLPAS Contract Report Form. This should include details of the outcome of the case using the appropriate codes. The deadline for submissions is the 10th of the month. Payment for work done under a HLPAS Exclusive Schedule is triggered by the LAA receiving fully completed HLPAS Contract Report Forms on a monthly basis.The LAA records information about claim submissions and payments by reference to the month in which the Contract Report Form was submitted, not the specific date upon which the Contract Report Form was received. It is therefore not possible to provide a breakdown for the periods specified in the question. 75 Contract Report Forms were submitted in August. 80 Contract Report Forms were submitted in September. The cut off for October submissions is 10 November and so we do not currently have information regarding Contract Report Forms for this period.The volume and value of claims arising from provision of early advice, according to the Contact Report Forms submitted to the LAA is set out in the table below: AugustSeptemberVolume of Claims2354Value of Claims£4,239£10,182.03Early legal advice claims are only submitted at the point the case has closed, payments are then processed and paid a month in arrears. Some providers may not submit a report every month to the LAA.The volume and value of claims arising from provision of in court duty assistance, according to the Contact Report Forms submitted to the LAA is set out in the table below. AugustSeptemberVolume of Claims16651750Value of Claims£176,656.00£182,931.64 In court duty claims are only submitted after the advice has been provided at court, payments are then processed and paid a month in arrears. Some providers may not submit a report every month to the LAA.As of 18 October, a total of £3,673.80 has been paid to service providers in respect of the provision of early advice. A total of £149,720.57 has been paid to service providers in respect of the provision of in court duty assistance.Payments for HLPAS work are paid a month in arrears. The response provided only covers payments in relation to August claims, which have been subject to a full validation process. The amount paid by the LAA may differ to the amount claimed if any errors or anomalies are identified. The LAA is currently processing September claims and will be making payments before the end of October. The payment information for in court duty assistance includes payments made for nil sessions i.e. where a provider attends court but no client is assisted.The number of Contract Report Forms completed using outcome code LT (matter proceeding to possession hearing at court) between 1 August and 18 October is 6. The number of Contract Report Forms completed using outcome code LU (matter stopped on advisor’s recommendation) between 1 August and 18 October is 2.Notes on data:The data regarding claim volume and value has been extracted from information held by the LAA on 20 October 2023.The data is Management Information manually collated by the LAA based on information received via provider submissions. Although every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete, it is important to note that the data has been extracted from data sets which require a degree of manual input. As a consequence, the data can change over time and care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when data is used.Table (xlsx, 21.6KB)

Good Law Project: Civil Proceedings

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost to the public purse has been of legal actions brought by the Good Law Project in each year since 2017.

Mike Freer: The Good Law Project have issued proceedings in the High Court (Administrative Court) and the Court of Appeal in each year since 2017. The number of claims issued is as follows:Year Administrative CourtCivil Court of Appeal 201720201811201922202014120211142022642023 year to date10 HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) does not capture detail on the total costs associated with administering individual cases. All proceedings issued attract court fees which are set by reference to the estimated cost to HMCTS for administering these types of proceedings. These fees contribute to the funding of HMCTS.

Ministry of Justice: Press and Television

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what subscriptions to (a) magazines, (b) television channels and (c) newspapers his Department funds for officials.

Mike Freer: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Family Courts: Standards

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2023 to Question 183105 on Family Courts: Standards, how many judicial sitting days there were in (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2022-23; and how many judges were recruited in each of those years.

Mike Freer: Sitting DaysThe number of sitting days in the Family Court and Family Division of the High Court is published in table 9.2 of the following link up to the end of 2022: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1159934/Royal_Courts_of_Justice_Annual_Tables-_2022.ods. Data for 2023 is due for publication next year. Despite the decrease between 2022 and 2021, the number of sitting days in 2022 was the second highest since 2011 and over 10,000 more than in 2019 pre pandemic. RecruitmentFamily judges are generally from the district and circuit bench, for which there is annual recruitment of salaried judges and every 18 months for fee paid judges. Dependent on the timing of the recruitment, judges may start sitting in the following year. Judges appointed to the district bench generally cover both Civil and Family jurisdictions. Circuit bench judges are specifically appointed to either Civil, Family or Crime. For 2021/22, the number of judges recommended to the appropriate authority for appointment in Circuit, District, Deputy District and Recorder roles can be found in Table 2.1 of the Diversity of the Judiciary: 2022 statistics (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/diversity-of-the-judiciary-2022-statistics). For 2022/23, the number recommended to the appropriate authority for appointment to these roles can be found in, again, Table 2.1 of the Diversity of the Judiciary: 2023 statistics (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/diversity-of-the-judiciary-2023-statistics). This regular recruitment has led to a steady increase in judicial capacity across the circuit and district bench. Further appointments have been made during 2023/24 and will be published in July 2024.

Home Office: Aviation

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to page 101 of  the Home Office's Annual Report and Accounts 2022 to 2023, how many individual trips were made on (a) domestic and (b) international flights.

Mike Freer: The Ministry of Justice Climate Change & Sustainability Unit collate data related to flights on behalf of the Home Office. The figures quoted below relate only to the Home Office account.There were 4,623 individual trips made on domestic flights in 2022-23.There were 3,254 individual trips made on international flights in 2022-23.

Women's Centres: Finance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to ringfence funding for Women Centres for future financial years.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his oral statement on Prison Capacity on 16 October 2023, what steps he is taking to expand the work of Women's Centres.

Damian Hinds: We remain committed to improving services for women in or at risk of contact with the criminal justice system, recognising that they are amongst the most vulnerable in society.In 2022 we launched three grant competitions covering the women’s community sector and have awarded total funding of £15 million up to March 2025. The funding will meet the core costs of women’s community sector organisations, allow the provision of new and additional services and interventions for women, as well as encouraging more joined up local partnership working to address women’s needs. 40 organisations across England and Wales are receiving funding. Of these, four organisations have been awarded funding to support current and new residential alternative to custody provisions, allowing more women to be managed effectively in the community, and avoiding short custodial sentences.Future spending decisions will be subject to the next Spending Review.

Probation Service: Red Snapper Recruitment

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the contract agreed on 5 May 2022 between his Department and Red Snapper Recruitment Ltd, procurement reference 270751/1269783, how many (a) temporary (i) probation and (ii) probation service officers have been assigned to roles within the Probation Service under the terms of that contract as of 18 October 2023 and (b) total days of work those staff have provided to the Probation Service during that period; and how much has been paid to Red Snapper Recruitment Ltd for the provision of those staff.

Damian Hinds: The total number of (a) temporary (i) probation and (ii) probation service officers have been assigned to roles within the Probation Service under the terms of that contract as of 18 October 2023 working through Red Snapper Ltd procurement reference 270751/1269783 were as follows:(a)(i) Probation – 29(ii) Probation Service Officers – 525 (b)The data on this contract records the number of months worked rather than days. The total number of months worked is 7,517, days worked per month vary per assignment.The total paid to Red Snapper Recruitment Ltd during the requested period is £ 17,722,782.48.

Wandsworth Prison: Prison Officers

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data his Department holds on how many occasions the number of prison officers on shift fell below the minimum staffing level required by Wandsworth Prison’s Regime Management Plan in the last 30 days.

Damian Hinds: Staffing levels continually change, owing to varying levels of requirement at different times of day, and because of a range of other factors. It is not therefore possible continuously to monitor staffing levels, but the information we collect on delivery against the Regime Management Plan indicates that in the 30 days up to 19 October – the most recent data currently available – staffing numbers did not drop below the minimum requirement.

Prisons: Rodents

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisons reported a rat infestation in (a) 2022-2023 and (b) 2021-2022.

Damian Hinds: There is no central record held showing the number of prisons reporting rat infestations across the prison estate. Routine planned pest control regimes exist, facilitated by the Facilities Management providers in alignment with contractual specifications. In addition to this, reactive pest control visits are undertaken as required.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to page 16 of HMPPS Annual Digest 2022/23 published on 27 July 2023, how long was taken to refer the 986 Foreign National Offender cases which did not meet his Department's 10 day working target.

Damian Hinds: As outlined on the page of the Annual Digest referred to, the 986 Foreign National Offender cases were referred to the Home Office on time, as part of a trial of a new digital process, which was not captured via the traditional measurement. Cases referred through the new and more efficient digital process are referred to the Home Office within five working days of sentence.

Prisoners' Release: Housing

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the provision of safe housing to women leaving prison on levels of (a) reoffending and (b) safety of those women.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to provide community based substance misuse and mental health services for women leaving prison.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he is taking steps to (a) provide women with jobs on leaving prison and (b) help women to transition into work.

Damian Hinds: We remain committed to the Female Offender Strategy, which provides the framework to deliver better outcomes for female offenders, recognising the distinct needs of this cohort. We are working across MoJ, HMPPS and wider government to provide a gender-specific, trauma-informed service and reduce reoffending. This includes £15m investment until 2025 in community services to deliver wraparound support to women in the criminal justice system, acknowledging the complex array of issues female offenders particularly face.Effective resettlement of prison leavers is a core part of our efforts to reduce reoffending. This includes making sure women have a home, family links where appropriate, access to healthcare, a job or further education, and/or access to benefits.Evidence shows that prison leavers without settled accommodation are almost 50% more likely to reoffend compared to those with settled accommodation. That is why we have developed the transitional accommodation service, known as Community Accommodation Service – Tier 3 (CAS3), which provides up to 12 weeks accommodation on release from prison. We are ensuring that a minimum 10% of beds delivered through CAS3 are allocated to women in women-only properties so that they feel safe, especially those with backgrounds of abuse.To provide continuity of healthcare, we are recruiting Health and Justice Partnership Coordinators nationwide who will liaise between prisons, probation, and local health partners. We are also expanding the availability of secure video calling, so prison leavers can meet community providers before release. In addition, the new National Partnership Agreement on Health and Social Care in England, published in February 2023, sets out a shared priority workplan to deliver safe, decent and effective care, including substance misuse and mental health treatment, that improves health outcomes for people after their release. NHS England’s continued investment in their RECONNECT service also supports prison leavers with mental health and substance misuse needs, as well as other vulnerabilities.In terms of employment, in every women’s prison we have recruited dedicated Prison Employment Leads (PELs) to match prisoners to jobs on release, rolled out onsite Employment Hubs, recruited ID and Banking administrators, and established Employment Advisory Boards (EABs) which link prisons with industry advisors. Lastly, the New Futures Network, who works with over 400 organisations to source employment opportunities and provide jobs training, have a dedicated broker for the women’s estate.

Prisoners: Food

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the food budget was per-prisoner per day in each year since 2015 in private sector prisons.

Damian Hinds: In the majority of privately managed prison contracts, food budgets are not separated out from other contract costs. His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) does not hold this information and it would not be possible to identify the food budget without disproportionate cost.Nevertheless, all Establishments are required to ensure prisoners receive three nutritionally balanced meals a day as set out in Prison Service Instruction 44/2010 Catering - Meals for Prisoners. These must meet the religious, cultural and medical needs of all prisoners.

Prison Governors

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prison governors have worked at (a) two, (b) three, (c) four and (d) more than four prisons since 2010.

Damian Hinds: From 01 January 2010 to 30 June 2023 there have been 295 prison governors employed at public sector prisons. The number of prisons they have been governors of in that period is shown in Table 1.Table 1 – The number of prisons that governors have governed between 01 January 2010 and 30 June 2023Number of prisons governedGovernorsPercentage114549%29031%34917%472%More than 441%Total295100% Notes:1. Figures relate to governing governors only (band 10-11) and do not include deputy governors temporarily covering this role.2. Only a single governor is recorded for each prison, though it is possible for the system to temporarily show more than governor at a prison at a time, any duplicates per prison are removed.3. Source of data: HMPPS - Single Operating Platform

Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions: Women

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of civil servants in his Department on temporary contracts are women as of 18 October 2023.

Mims Davies: DWP Paid Staff Only September 2023 data.There was a total of 345 Temporary contracts of those 48% were women. The department is committed to increase the diversity of our workforce. Recruitment guidance encourages vacancy holders to advertise widely and all DWP’s vacancies are advertised on VERCIDA an inclusive jobs platform, that specifically promotes our diversity networks activities, inclusive culture and employer awards. These are also promoted our Civil Service Careers Website page. DWP uses a name-blind approach at application and sift stage as standard including at SCS level where feasible. Guidance encourages the use gender-neutral language and online tools to check readability and inclusive language in job adverts and other recruitment materials. In SCS recruitment the department takes proactive steps to improve the diversity of candidates progressed to interview including readvertising on occasion to increase the diversity and gender balance of shortlists. Our recruitment guidance is clear that restricted working patterns can only be advertised when supported by justifiable business objectives. For some roles we run engagement sessions where candidates can ask questions about working patterns and flexibility at the earliest stages. DWP is also a Career Confident Ambassador and has achieved level 3, the highest level of accreditation. Roles are designed against the full range of Success Profiles. As such all elements are valued equally, and candidates can succeed in our recruitment and selection processes in the absence of formal qualifications. DWP workforce diversity statistics are monitored and published internally each quarter. Annual Diversity statistics are monitored and published in the Department for Work and Pensions Annual report and Accounts.

Department for Work and Pensions: Women

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of payband SCS2 civil servants in his Department on full-time equivalent contracts are women as of 18 October 2023.

Mims Davies: DWP Paid Staff Only September 2023 dataFull-time SCS2 that are Female is 35% DWP encourages temporary promotion opportunities (known as Temporary Duties Allowance in DWP) to be filled fairly and transparently. Temporary promotions for a duration of more than one month require authorisation from an HR Business Partner and a leader of an appropriate senior grade. Temporary promotions (known as Temporary Duties Allowance in DWP) for a duration of more than 6 months from the outset should be decided through a formal selection exercise, either through a fair and transparent Expressions of Interest exercise or advertised on Civil Service Jobs.

Employment: Young People

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the Youth Employment Group's report entitled Young Person's Guarantee published 27 September 2023; and if he will make a statement.

Mims Davies: We acknowledge the Youth Employment Group’s report calling for the Government to adopt a Young Person’s Guarantee and note the five recommended policy proposals. The Government is committed to delivering targeted support for all young people, no matter what their start in life or the challenges they face, to give them the best chance of getting into work. Within DWP, the Youth Offer provides individually tailored Work Coach support to young people aged 16-24 who are on the Universal Credit and searching for work. As published in PQ 202513, we have expanded Youth Offer support to enable more young people on Universal Credit to see a Work Coach in a Youth Hub or to benefit from the expertise of our Youth Employability Coaches. By extending the Youth Offer to other Universal Credit claimants we are helping more young people not in education, employment or training who claim Universal Credit to access this essential support. Some Youth Hubs will also offer a drop-in facility where these young people who do not have a UC claim will be able to access support. Lastly, we recognise that ensuring young people have the most appropriate support, education or training to enable them to enter sustained employment and progress in their careers requires a cross-government approach. In partnership with DfE and DCMS, we have established a new cross Government Forum on Youth Skills for Life and Work. The forum provides an opportunity for departments to identify and act on opportunities to work closer together on crosscutting youth issues and to equip young people with the skills for life and work that they will need to fulfil their potential and drive growth for the country.

Youth Services

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has for the long-term role of Youth Hubs in society; and if he will make a statement.

Mims Davies: We are fully committed to the delivery of Youth Hubs, which are an integral part of our wider DWP Youth Offer. Youth Hubs bring together Work Coach employment support and place-based services from local partnerships to help young people into work. The Spring Budget 2023 committed to the extension of the Youth Offer until 2028, with funding beyond 2024/2025 to be determined by a future spending review. We published Youth Hub funding details in PQ 190112. Alongside this, we recently expanded eligibility for the Youth Offer allowing more young people on Universal Credit to see a Work Coach in a Youth Hub, receive intensive support at the start of their claim or to benefit from the expertise of our Youth Employability Coaches.The Youth Offer, including Youth Hubs, is subject to a Process Evaluation. Early emerging findings are being shared internally and will inform any improvements or future changes to the Youth Offer policy. The process evaluation will continue until Spring 2024. We aim to publish the findings once complete.

Social Security Benefits: Artificial Intelligence

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether AI is used in his Department's sanctions processes.

Guy Opperman: The Department does not currently use Artificial Intelligence in sanctions processes.

Employment: Impact Assessments

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to disseminate best practice identified by his Department's Employment Data Lab.

Guy Opperman: All Employment Data Lab evaluations are published on gov.uk and so are available to all employment support providers and the public. There are currently no further plans to disseminate best practice.

Employment Data Lab

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of his Department's employment data lab on the effectiveness of (a) job centres and (b) existing employment services.

Guy Opperman: There are no current plans to assess the potential impact of the Employment Data Lab service on the effectiveness of either jobcentres or existing employment services.

Social Security Benefits: Uprating

Claire Hanna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to uprate social security rates in line with the latest rate of CPI in the upcoming Autumn Statement.

Guy Opperman: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is required by law to undertake an annual review of State Pensions and benefits. The outcome of the review will be announced in the Autumn.

Universal Credit: Chronic Illnesses and Disability

Duncan Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the mandatory offer of support to people in the light touch conditionality regime will begin.

Guy Opperman: We are committed to ensuring that people in work look for more and better work. That’s not only good for the country and the economy, it is good for someone to move off benefits– improving life prospects, mental and physical health, and providing new skills. At Spring Budget we announced the AET rise to the equivalent of 18 hours at the National Living Wage. This will bring the lower earners who would have been impacted by the mandatory offer into a higher level of conditionality. Claimants earning above the Administrative Earnings Threshold in the Light Touch Group currently have access to a voluntary In Work Progression offer. This will now become mandatory in 2024.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether certificate of applications issued to EU Settlement Scheme applicants cover claims to Universal Credit.

Guy Opperman: Individuals in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement (or equivalent citizen’s rights agreements with the EEA EFTA countries and Switzerland) can use their Certificate of Application to evidence that they have made a valid application to the EU Settlement Scheme. They will then be able to access Universal Credit on the same basis as before the UK left the EU – including needing to provide evidence that they are exercising a qualifying right to reside, such as a worker or self-employed status.

Disability: Public Consultation

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to publish the findings of the consultation on the Disability Action Plan.

Tom Pursglove: The consultation closed on 6 October. We are currently carefully analysing the responses received and revising proposals accordingly. We plan to publish the findings and final Disability Action Plan together, at the first appropriate opportunity.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of initial PIP assessments.

Tom Pursglove: Assessment quality is a priority for both the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) providers and the department. The department works extensively with providers to make improvements to guidance, training, and audit procedures, to ensure a quality service. A high standard is maintained by having an independent audit function that continually monitors performance and provides feedback to providers. DWP monitors providers against a range of measures and monthly performance meetings are in place to support delivery of the contracts and ensure that where action is required, it can be focused and targeted. Improvements in the PIP assessment process have been supported by two independent reviews and DWP has also taken on board recommendations from the Work and Pensions Committee. In addition, the department’s Health Transformation Programme (HTP) is modernising Health and Disability benefit services. It will create a more efficient service and a vastly improved claimant experience, reducing journey times and improving trust in our services and decisions. Furthermore, an ongoing programme of engagement and research has been established to ensure that the design and delivery of the HTP is rooted in evidence.

Personal Independence Payment: ICT

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether all (a) claimant tribunal decisions are held on the Personal Independence Payment Computer System and (b) assessment provider health professionals have access to (i) those decisions and (ii) other relevant supporting evidence when making a recommendation on whether a benefit should continue to be awarded.

Tom Pursglove: In response to part (a), we can confirm that PIPCS does hold details of tribunal decisions. The decision itself is held as a digital image. In response to part (b), providers would be able to see the outcome of the tribunal decision. They can view supporting evidence held, including documents sent in by a claimant to support an appeal. These would be scanned and held on PIPCS. Providers can also see information input by DWP Service Delivery colleagues in Decision Assist notes, as well as any ephemeral documents held on the system. The tribunal decision and supporting information can be used by providers to support their recommendations.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Nuclear Fusion: Research and Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, from what budget line and over what time period funding will be provided for the commitment of up to (a) £200 million for a Fuel Cycle Testing Facility, (b) £200 million for vital R&D ensuring industry can develop and design components for future fusion powerplants, (c) £50 million for growing and improving the Culham campus in Oxfordshire, (d) £55 million for a Fusion Skills Programme, (e) £35 million additional funding for the Fusion Industry Programme, (f) £25 million to enhance international collaborations on fusion R&D, to export UK expertise and make best use of global knowledge to accelerate fusion energy, (g) £18 million for a Technology Transfer Hub and (h) £11 million to further support the STEP programme and upskill UK industry to help deliver it; and what the process will for deciding to whom the money from each commitment is allocated.

Andrew Bowie: Fusion Futures is the UK’s alternative programme to Euratom R&T. The commitments will be funded from HM Treasury’s EU Programme ringfence which provides funding up to March 2028, subject to business cases. Further detail on the commercial arrangements for each commitment will be provided as the programme develops.

Social Rented Housing: Carbon Emissions

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether it remains her Department's policy to provide £3.8 billion to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

Graham Stuart: The Conservative Manifesto committed to a £3.8 billion Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) over a ten-year period to 2030. The total committed funding for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and associated Demonstrator is over £1 billion to date. On 2nd October 2023, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that the SHDF Wave 2.2 ‘top up’ competition will allocate up to £80 million of additional grant funding from April 2024.

Energy: Meters

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the finding in paragraph 21 of the Public Accounts Committee's report entitled Update on the rollout of smart meters, HC 1332, that estimates that seven million energy smart meters will need to have their communications hubs replaced when 2G and 3G mobile networks are switched off.

Amanda Solloway: Mobile Network Operators have announced long-term plans for sunsetting 2G and 3G networks by the end of 2033. The Government is already working with industry to support a smooth transition for consumers in advance of this.Energy suppliers are obliged to upgrade smart meter communications hubs for those customers that will require this, as part of ensuring continuity of connectivity.The Data Communications Company, which is licensed to operate the national communications network for smart metering, has already procured the services to enable future 4G smart metering network infrastructure.

North Sea Oil: Shetland

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the development of the Rosebank oil field on the UK's ability to meet (a) the (i) fifth and (ii) sixth carbon budgets and (b) its net zero targets.

Graham Stuart: Development proposals for oil and gas fields are dealt with by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) and the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED). The decision to approve the Rosebank Development follows extensive scrutiny by regulators, including a full environmental impact assessment and a public consultation. The Government's Net Zero Strategy sets out how the North Sea Transition Deal's emissions reduction targets are consistent with the UK meeting its carbon budgets and net zero by 2050. The expected emissions from potential future oil and gas projects are factored into the UK's carbon budgets.

Nuclear Power

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) his Department or (b) Great British Nuclear is taking steps to amend the National Policy Statements to enable (i) small modular reactors and (ii) advanced nuclear technologies development.

Andrew Bowie: The Government is developing a new nuclear National Policy Statement (NPS), which will cover the policy framework for deploying new nuclear power stations beyond 2025. As a first step towards developing the new nuclear NPS, we intend to consult before the end of the year on a proposed way forward for determining how new nuclear developments might be located, including the potential for deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and other advanced nuclear technologies.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Staff

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many staff in her Department in grades (a) 6, (b) 7 and c) SCS are contractually located in (i) Scotland, (ii) London and (iii) the South East.

Graham Stuart: The table below shows the number of staff in the department for Energy Security and Net Zero (core dept only) by locations and grades. LocationG7G6SCSLondon1161402176Scotland3692South East (Inc London)1161402176

Renewable Energy

David Duguid: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of retiring the Renewables Obligation Certificate scheme for landfill gas to energy generation sites by 2027 on the UK's energy security.

David Duguid: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she plans to introduce revenue support mechanisms for existing landfill gas to energy generation sites beyond 2027.

David Duguid: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will extend the Renewables Obligation Certificate scheme beyond 2027 for existing landfill gas to energy generation sites.

David Duguid: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of retiring the Renewables Obligation Certificate scheme for landfill gas to energy generation sites by 2027 on methane emissions; and what steps her Department plans to take to increase methane capture rates at landfill sites.

Graham Stuart: The Government does not intend to extend the Renewables Obligation scheme beyond the end dates for support in 2027 and 2037, depending on when the generating station was accredited. However, finding efficient ways to re-use existing stations that otherwise might decommission could be important for reducing methane emissions, as recognised in the Biomass Strategy. The Government is exploring the most appropriate revenue support mechanism for repowering existing stations across all technology types where this delivers value to the consumer.

Women and Equalities

Conversion Therapy

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what her timeline is for bringing forward the proposed draftBill on conversion therapy.

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to publish (a) a draft Bill and (b) her Department's response to its consultation on banning conversion therapy.

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether the Government plans to ban sexual orientation and gender identity conversion practices.

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) adults subject to conversion practices; (b) children and young people under 18 subject to conversion practices; and (c) children and young people under 18 taken out of the UK for the purposes of conversion practices since July 2018.

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to publish a response to the consultation entitled Banning conversion therapy, published on 29 October 2021.

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether it remains the Government’s policy to ban sexual orientation and gender identity conversion practices.

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 on the use of conversion practices with LGBT people.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent estimate she has made of when the proposed ban on sexual orientation and gender identity conversion practices will be in place; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of legislation to ban conversion practices in Spain.

Stuart C McDonald: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether (a) she and (b) officials in her Department have had discussions with representatives of (i) LGBT organisations and (ii) conversion practices survivors in the relevant states of the US and District of Columbia on the effectiveness of legislation banning conversion practices.

Stuart Andrew: No one in this country should be harmed or harassed for who they are and attempts at so-called ‘conversion therapy’ are abhorrent. That is why we are carefully considering this very complex issue. We will be setting out further details on this in due course

Question

Gerald Jones: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to support women experiencing menopausal symptoms in the workplace.

Mims Davies: Helen Tomlinson, the Government’s Menopause Employment Champion, is working with businesses to raise awareness of the menopause in the workplace and support women to have the fulfilling careers they deserve.On World Menopause Day, we published ‘No time to step back’, a progress report from Helen, and launched new content on the DBT ‘Help to Grow’ website outlining guidance to support women experiencing menopause and its impact at work.

Question

Afzal Khan: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to help tackle racial inequality.

Maria Caulfield: We published our ground-breaking race equality strategy last year.Inclusive Britain set out 74 actions to tackle entrenched ethnic disparities across health, education, employment, policing and criminal justice.18 months on and we have completed over half of the actions, including:o publishing new ethnicity pay guidance for employers;o issuing improved guidance on behaviour in schools and on suspensions and permanent exclusions; ando improving the stop and search process through new de-escalation skills training for police officers.A further update will be provided to parliament in Spring 2024

Question

Catherine West: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in the cost of living on (a) women, (b) Black, Asian and ethnic minority people and (c) people with disabilities.

Mims Davies: The Government understands the pressures people across all communities are facing with the cost of living and is taking action to help. Overall, we are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022/23 and 2023/24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of bills.For people who require additional support, in England, the Household Support Fund will continue until March 2024. This year long extension allows Local Authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support to those most in need with the significantly rising cost of living. Local Authorities are expected to support households in the most need, and in particular those who may not be eligible for the other support Government recently made available but are nevertheless in need of support.

Question

Patricia Gibson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on tackling pensioner poverty among women.

Mims Davies: In 2021/22 there were 200 thousand fewer female pensioners in absolute poverty than in 2009/10, after housing costs.In 2023/24, we will spend over £151.6 billion on benefits for pensioners in Great Britain, which is 5.9% of GDP.This includes spending on the State Pension which is forecast to be £124.3 billion in 2023/24.

Question

Mohammad Yasin: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the Home Secretary on the effectiveness of the Windrush Compensation Scheme for affected groups.

Miss Sarah Dines: Since April 2019, the Windrush Compensation Scheme has paid over £67 million in compensation.The Scheme has reduced the time to allocate a claim for a substantive casework consideration, following completion of eligibility checks and a Preliminary Assessment, from 18 months to under 5 months.The Home Office continues to listen to feedback from stakeholders and the communities and make improvements the scheme and the way it operates to ensure people receive the maximum compensation at the earliest point possible.

Question

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what progress her Department has made on bringing forward legislative proposals to ban conversion therapy.

Stuart Andrew: No one in this country should be harmed or harassed for who they are and attempts at so-called ‘conversion therapy’ are abhorrent. That is why we are carefully considering this very complex issue. We will be setting out further details on this in due course.

Question

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether the Government plans to increase protections against harassment in the workplace.

Maria Caulfield: The Government has been supporting the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill first introduced in the Commons by the Hon Member for Bath.I am delighted that Parliament has agreed the final version of the Bill on Friday 20 October and it will now receive Royal Assent.This Bill will strengthen protections for employees against workplace sexual harassment.

Gender Based Violence

Mark Logan: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls.

Maria Caulfield: Equality Ministers work closely with colleagues across Government to tackle violence against women and girls. The Minister for Women sits on the Ministerial Steering Group overseeing the delivery of the Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy and the Domestic Abuse Action Plan. This group met most recently on 18 October 2023 to assess progress, which includes; Adding the issue of violence against women and girls to the revised Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR), meaning it is now set out as a national threat for forces to respond to alongside other threats such as terrorism, serious and organised crime, and child sexual abuse;Investing £168 million through the Safer Streets and Safety of Women at Night funds to make our streets safer;Launching a fund for VAWG ‘by and for’ services over two years to a total of up to £6 million, from 2023/24 – 2024/25. The fund is for services across England and Wales, supporting LGBT people, people with a disability, or ethnic minorities affected by VAWG;Launching the ‘Enough’ behaviour change campaign in March 2022, which has reached millions of individuals across England and Wales.As part of that cross government work the Equality Hub is supporting the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill. Parliament agreed the final version of the Bill on Friday 20 October and it will now receive Royal Assent, strengthing protections for employees against workplace sexual harassment.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Internet: Safety

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of age verification and estimation technology for meeting requirements in the Online Safety Bill.

Paul Scully: Age verification technologies are well developed and already in use across a range of sectors, including financial services and the online sales of age restricted goods. Age estimation technologies are developing rapidly and there are a growing number of privacy-preserving tools being developed that will ensure that platforms know the age of their users and can provide a safe and age-appropriate experience for children.Ofcom will set out in its guidance examples of the kinds of age verification and age estimation measures that can be used to meet the duties set out in the Bill – this includes setting out the kinds of technologies that are highly effective in determining whether a particular user is a child for the purpose of protecting children from pornography and other primary priority content that is harmful to children.

Space Technology: North East

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support the space sector in the North East of England.

George Freeman: This year the UK Space Agency has awarded £335,000 funding to the North East space cluster, including to the North East Centre of Excellence in Satellite Applications, which is unlocking new opportunities in the North East and to date has helped to secure £12m investment into the region.The UK Space Agency has also invested £5.7 million into Northumbria University since 2020 through its National Space Innovation Programme to develop the world’s first commercially available laser-based satellite communication system.

Universities Policy Engagement Network

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will meet with representatives of the Universities Policy Engagement Network to discuss the implications for Departments of the Ref 2028 requirement that universities demonstrate (a) impact and (b) engagement.

George Freeman: The design and implementation of the REF 2028 is being carried out by the devolved funding bodies of the UK nations, including Research England in England. During this process the funding bodies have engaged widely with stakeholders, including many of the members of the Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN), on the design of the next REF. This engagement, including a currently open opportunity to provide written comments, will continue through the autumn and the final design of the REF will take full account of stakeholders’ contributions to the engagement process.

Cybercrime: Small Businesses

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues on the potential vulnerability of SMEs to cyber-attacks.

George Freeman: The 2023 Cyber Security Breaches Survey shows 32% of small businesses and 31% of micro businesses identified having suffered a cyber breach or attack in the past 12 months. This is a decline on 2022, however we believe this may be due to smaller businesses deprioritising cyber security and being less likely to identify breaches and attacks, rather than a reduction in the threat.Our strategy, working with other relevant Departments and Agencies, is therefore to make it as easy as possible for SMEs to be secure.

Science: Expenditure

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the (a) proportional and (b) absolute change in expenditure on science outside the Greater South East has been over each of the last five years for which figures are available.

George Freeman: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the UK Government Office for Science are working with all government departments to collect and publish sub-national data on their R&D spending. This will allow us to track progress on the R&D Levelling Up mission to increase domestic public investment in R&D outside the Greater South East by at least 40% by 2030, and by at least a third by 2024-5.The baseline data for 2020-21 was published in April this year, with data for future years made available in due course.

UK Shared Business Services: Training

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much UK Shared Business Services Ltd spent on equality and diversity training in the 2022-23 financial year.

George Freeman: On 2 October, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a value for money audit of all EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) spending in the Civil Service. The audit will dovetail with the public sector productivity review, aiming at delivering a leaner, more efficient government. The audit forms part of our drive to improve productivity across the public sector by driving down waste and improving performance. The findings and actions of the audit will be announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn.

Satellites: Ceredigion

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department's announcement of £8 million to fund new satellite connectivity in up to 35,000 of the hardest to reach premises, whether she plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of including premises in Ceredigion constituency as part of that scheme.

Sir John Whittingdale: The Government expects less than 100,000 premises to be unable to access a gigabit- capable connection via either a commercial or government funded rollout and require government intervention. These premises are described as Very Hard to Reach. The Capital Grant Scheme announced in April, will provide up to 35,000 premises with help to access low Earth orbit satellite equipment to improve their connectivity. The scheme will be open to premises that the department has identified as being unlikely to benefit from an improved fixed line, or fixed wireless access connection. This could be for one of several reasons including being in a remote location far from neighbouring premises. We expect premises to be located across the UK, and the government will publish a full list of eligible postcodes prior to the launch of the scheme, along with detailed eligibility criteria.

5G: Rural Areas

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to reduce 5G (a) not spots and (b) partial not spots in rural areas.

Sir John Whittingdale: 5G was first launched in 2019, and while most 5G sites are focused around busy urban areas, we’re now seeing coverage extending into smaller towns. Basic, non-standalone, 5G is now available outside 85% of UK premises.The Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, published earlier this year, announced the Government’s vision for wireless connectivity and shared a new ambition for nationwide coverage of higher quality, standalone 5G in all populated areas by 2030. We are providing a long-term ambition to help the private sector invest in 5G networks by supporting competition, driving down deployment costs and driving the take-up of innovative, 5G-enabled tech by the business and public sectors.The Department provides extensive guidance for local authorities and operators to help facilitate broadband and mobile deployment through the Digital Connectivity Portal. We have also taken steps to make it easier and cheaper for operators to deploy 5G. This includes reforming the planning system in England. Alongside this, measures within the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, will support upgrades of sites to 5G.

4G and 5G: Essex

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to improve (a) 4G and (b) 5G coverage in (i) Essex and (ii) Witham constituency.

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what progress has been made on the Shared Rural Network arrangements to improve (a) outdoor and (b) indoor 4G coverage in (i) Essex and (ii) Witham constituency.

Sir John Whittingdale: This Government is taking steps to improve both 4G and 5G coverage across the country. Improvements in 4G coverage have already started to be delivered through the Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme, which is targeting areas of the country with partial or no coverage. This agreement will see the government and industry jointly invest over £1 billion to increase outdoor 4G mobile coverage across the UK to 95% by the end of 2025. All four MNOs expect to increase coverage in both Witham and the East of England as they fill partial ‘not spots’ in these areas. In addition to the SRN, the mobile network operators invest around £2 billion annually in enhancing and improving their networks. In our Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, published in April this year, we set out the Government’s vision for wireless connectivity and shared a new ambition for nationwide coverage of higher quality standalone 5G in all populated areas by 2030. This provides a long-term ambition to help the private sector invest in 5G networks by supporting competition, driving down deployment costs and driving the take-up of innovative, 5G-enabled tech by the business and the public sector. The Department provides extensive guidance for local authorities and operators to help facilitate broadband and mobile deployment through the Digital Connectivity Portal. We have also taken steps to make it easier and cheaper for operators to deploy 4G and 5G. This includes reforming the planning system in England. Alongside this, measures within the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022, will support upgrades of sites to 5G.

Cabinet Office

Civil Servants: Recruitment

Julian Knight: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department is taking steps to recruit employees from the private sector into the civil service.

Jeremy Quin: I announced at a speech in June at Policy Exchange a series of measures to make the Civil Service more attractive to external candidates. This included when recruiting for senior roles in the Civil Service the default position is that all recruitment must operate externally by default. This means vacancies at this level must be advertised both to applicants internal and external to the Civil Service on openly available websites to allow for all those interested in the role, including in the private sector, to apply. I announced that roles will be advertised on a broader range of openly available job boards with simplified job advertisements.

Civil Servants: Pay

Kim Leadbeater: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he is taking steps to ensure that civil servants who retired before the cost of living payment was made can receive the payment.

Jeremy Quin: In June 2023, the Cabinet Office published an addendum to the 2023/24 Pay Remit Guidance, allowing organisations in scope flexibility to make a one-off payment worth up to £1,500 for all eligible staff up to and including Grade 6. The criteria for this payment is that individuals must have been in post on 31 March 2023 and still in post at the point a department makes the payment during the 2023/24 pay year. There are no plans to adjust the criteria.

Civil Service Governance and Accountability Review

Julian Knight: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of Lord Maude of Horsham's report on civil service governance and accountability; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Quin: I am grateful to Lord Maude for undertaking this review and will update on next steps in due course.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Sports: Coventry

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding her Department allocated to projects to support grassroots sports facilities in Coventry in each of the last five years.

Stuart Andrew: Over the last five years, DCMS has provided over £1.26m of funding to support grassroots sports facilities in Coventry, to improve access and increase participation.Over £1.26m has been invested as part of the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme, via the Football Foundation, to seven clubs/organisations (The Futures Trust, Firefighters Jfc, CM Sports FC, Coventry Saracens Junior FC, Coventry Copsewood Junior FC, Coventrians RFC, Firefighters Jfc). This funding went towards a range of improvements - from a new full-sized third generation artificial grass pitch to new goalposts and changing rooms.Spencer Park in Coventry has also received funding through the Park Tennis Court Renovation programme. £78,000 has been used to improve the public tennis courts there.

Swimming

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps with (a) Swim England and (b) British Swimming to help ensure that Para S15 swimmers (i) are able to access (A) support and (B) funding and (ii) receive acknowledgement when competing in international championships.

Stuart Andrew: The Government is committed to championing disability sport at the highest levels, with continued support for Paralympic sports through UK Sport funding.The UK Government currently provides support to elite athletes through funding our Arm’s Length Body, UK Sport. UK Sport in turn uses this funding to support athletes with potential to achieve success in Olympic and Paralympic sports.Sport England have also agreed to work with UK Deaf Sport to help to identify a small number of governing bodies that, on a trial basis, will have their talent pathways supported to be as inclusive to D/deaf athletes as possible. This work with Sport England will help open up opportunities at all levels for D/deaf people.

Football: Regulation

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Leader of the House on establishing an independent football regulator.

Stuart Andrew: On 23 February 2023, the Government published its ‘A Sustainable Future: Reforming Club Football Governance’ White Paper on reforms to football governance, committing to legislate for a statutory regulator for English football. This followed the Government’s Response, published in April 2022, to the independent Fan-Led Review of Football Governance.The Government subsequently undertook a targeted consultation period, including inviting comments from all 116 football clubs in the top five tiers of English football; the relevant leagues and existing footballing bodies; fan groups; legal experts; industry experts; leading academics; and civil society organisations. The Government Response was published on 7 September 2023.

Football: Regulation

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to introduce a shadow non-statutory independent football regulator.

Stuart Andrew: We are actively exploring the extent to which preparatory work can be done ahead of the Regulator being established in law, which could take the form of a shadow non-statutory body. This is being considered and a decision will be confirmed in due course.

Sports: Hearing Impairment

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to promote the inclusion of deaf people in sport.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to reduce barriers to entry for young deaf people in (a) sport and (b) other activities.

Stuart Andrew: The government recognises that there are significant benefits to participation in sport and physical activity for disabled people, including D/deaf people at both the grassroots and elite levels.The Department for Culture, Media and Sport arms length body, Sport England, has committed £1.2 million between 2022 and 2027 to boost deaf sport at the grassroots level, build wider participation, and develop strong governance within UK Deaf Sport.Sport England have also agreed to work with UK Deaf Sport to help to identify a small number of governing bodies that, on a trial basis, will have their talent pathways supported to be as inclusive to D/deaf athletes as possible. This work with Sport England will help open up opportunities at all levels for D/deaf people.

Hamas: Israel

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with (a) representatives from the media and (b) Ofcom on ensuring the (i) accuracy and (ii) objectivity of coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.

Sir John Whittingdale: The attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel since 7 October are terrorist acts committed by a terrorist organisation, proscribed in the United Kingdom since 2021 and designated as such by many other governments and international organisations.As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister said at Prime Minister’s Questions (18 October 2023), “it is incumbent on all of those in positions of responsibility in this House and outside in the media to recognise that the words we say will have an impact, and we should be careful with them”.Ofcom is the UK’s independent broadcasting regulator. In particular, it is required by legislation, and accountable to Parliament, to draw up and enforce a Broadcasting Code for television to ensure that audiences are adequately protected from harm and that news is reported with due accuracy and due impartiality. It is for Ofcom to determine whether there has been a breach of the Broadcasting Code, and whether to take action.The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ofcom and representatives from the media on a range of issues.

Press Freedom

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of Ofcom in protecting freedom of speech in the media.

Sir John Whittingdale: This Government is committed to defending the invaluable role of a free media. This is vital to a strong and fully functioning democracy where the powerful can be held to account.Ofcom is the UK’s independent broadcasting regulator. In particular, it is required by legislation, and accountable to Parliament, to draw up and enforce a Broadcasting Code for television to ensure that audiences are adequately protected from harm. It is for Ofcom to determine whether there has been a breach of the Broadcasting Code, and whether to take action. In making any decision, Ofcom is required by the Communications Act 2003 to strike a balance between ensuring an appropriate level of freedom of expression and adequate protection from harmful material. It would not be appropriate for the Government to assess their effectiveness in this regard.

Home Office

Places of Worship Security Funding Scheme

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many places of worship of religion have applied for funding through the Places of Worship Protective Security Funding Scheme since 2016.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications have been received for the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme.

Tom Tugendhat: The Places of Worship Protective Security Funding Scheme provides physical protective security measures, such as CCTV, intruder alarms and secure perimeter fencing to places of worship and associated faith community centres that are particularly vulnerable to religiously or racially motivated hate crime in England and Wales.In the first seven years of the scheme between 2016 and 2022, the Home Office approved protective security measures at 523 places of worship across England and Wales: 225 mosques, 201 churches, 47 gurdwaras, 38 Hindu temples, and 12 places of worship of other faiths.The Home Office is currently processing applications for this year’s scheme with a view to informing applicants of the outcome in the near future.

Abortion: Demonstrations

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to bring into force the provisions of the Public Order Act 2023 introducing safe access zones around abortion clinics.

Chris Philp: The timescales for commencing the new Section 9 offence of interference with access to, or provision of, abortion services will be confirmed in due course.

Firearms: Licensing

Sir Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which police force has the lowest average time taken for issuing firearm and shotgun licenses over the last 12 months.

Sir Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department plans to take to reduce the waiting time for individuals who have been waiting over three years for firearm and shotgun licenses.

Sir Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to remove responsibility for issuing firearm and shotgun licenses from West Mercia Police; and if she will make a statement.

Sir Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to establish a compensation scheme for individuals who have had to wait more than one year for their firearm and shotgun licenses.

Sir Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays in the approval of firearm and shotgun licenses on people for whom a license is essential to their livelihood.

Sir Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will (a) make an assessment of the performance of police forces in issuing firearms and shotgun licences and (b) centralise the responsibility for issuing those licences with the police force that performs the best against the metrics used for that assessment.

Chris Philp: We do not collect data on the time taken by police forces to issue firearm and shotgun certificates.The issue of how individual forces’ firearms licensing departments deal with applications for firearms certificates is an operational matter for the Chief Officer of each police force concerned. However, I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners about the importance of an efficient and effective firearms licensing process in police forces and I continue to receive updates on force performance. In addition, force performance is being actively monitored by the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for firearms licensing and she is working actively with forces with performance related issues.Particular focus is being made on the backlogs in those areas of greatest risk, with a reduced routine reliance being made on the use of temporary permits, as well as a reduction in those whose certificates have expired, who have not been given temporary permits and who remain in possession of their firearms.In addition, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) is planning a thematic inspection of firearms licensing in 2024/25 and case performance is likely to be one of the issues considered and inspected.The Home Office is currently reviewing firearms licensing fees, which were last increased in 2015 and are now considerably below the cost of the service provided. The key aim of the review is to achieve full cost recovery for the police so that they receive the funding and resources they need to provide a more effective service. The income from new fees will enable police forces to better resource, train and equip their firearms licensing teams. This will help reduce delays in processing applications, as well as supporting public safety.There are no plans to create a central licensing body to administer firearms licensing.

Artificial Intelligence: Offences against Children

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to prevent the proliferation of AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery.

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress her Department has made on reducing AI-generated child sex abuse imagery.

Miss Sarah Dines: The Government remains firmly committed to tackling all forms of child sexual abuse online and in our communities across the UK and internationally. Our approach is underpinned by the Tackling Child Sexual Abuse Strategy which sets out firm commitments to drive action across the whole system.The law in the UK is very clear with regards to production of child sexual abuse material. It is an offence to produce, store, share or search for any material that contains or depicts child sexual abuse, regardless of whether the material depicts a ‘real’ child or not. This prohibition also includes pseudo-imagery that may have been computer-generated.Home Office investment supports the National Crime Agency to use its unique capabilities to disrupt the highest harm offenders, safeguard children and remove the most horrific child sexual abuse material from the internet, including on the dark web.The Home Office has recently rolled out new tools linked to our world leading Child Abuse Image Database to support law enforcement to identify offenders and safeguard victims more quickly.All companies that utilise Artificial Intelligence must incorporate safety measures to ensure their technology cannot be manipulated by offenders of this abhorrent crime. We welcome further engagement with industries to work together to implement or create the best solution for their platforms.As part of the Government’s work to tackle child sexual abuse offences in every form, the Government has driven forward the Online Safety Bill, which will soon gain royal assent and become law. The strongest protections in the Online Safety Bill are for children and all companies in scope of the legislation will need to tackle child sexual abuse material as a priority.In September, the Home Secretary met US Secretary of State Alejandro N. Majorkas at NCMEC and reaffirmed their commitment to combined expertise of the UK and United States to ensure perpetrators of child sexual abuse and exploitation cannot operate across continents.In partnership with the IWF, the Home Office will be hosting an AI Summit side event to discuss the growing threat of generative artificial intelligence creating child sexual abuse material. The summit will bring international stakeholders together to encourage co-operation to tackle this heinous crime.

UK Border Force: Resignations

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people left employment in the Border Force in each year since 2010.

Robert Jenrick: Border Force has grown over this time, so it does mean the percentage has decreased. For example, FTE in 2015/16 was c7400 and is currently 11918."Headcount of Border Force Leavers who have also left the Home Office (only available from 2014)"Person Type2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-162016-172017-182018-192019-202020-21TotalInformation not available351693709547398330360403

Asylum: Hotels

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2023 to Question 202546 on Asylum: Hotels, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of using hotels below three star grade as a short term option for asylum seekers, where those hotels have been deemed to meet health and safety requirements.

Robert Jenrick: We are committed to ensuring that destitute asylum seekers are housed in safe, habitable and fit for purpose accommodation, and that they are treated with dignity while their asylum claim is considered. The Home Office has always been clear that use of hotels as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers was a short-term measure to ensure that we met our statutory obligation. As a result of the range of measures we have implemented to stop the boats, reform the management of asylum accommodation estate and the delivery of alternative forms of accommodation sites, we are now able to stop the procurement of new asylum hotels and begin the first phase of hotel exits.

Hamas: Arrests

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been arrested for publicly endorsing Hamas since the attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023.

Tom Tugendhat: As of 1200hrs Monday 23rd October, as a result of Counter Terrorism Policing led investigations, there have been 6 arrests of individuals for publicly supporting Hamas.

Agricultural Machinery: Theft

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce instances of theft of farm equipment and machinery.

Chris Philp: This Government is committed to driving down rural crime including theft of farm equipment and machinery.To help prevent the theft of agricultural machinery, the Government has introduced the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act which will require immobilisers and forensic marking to be fitted as standard to all new All-Terrain Vehicles and quad bikes.The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 gained Royal Assent on 20 July 2023. The Home Office issued a Call for Evidence to inform the necessary secondary legislation regulations, which closed on 13 July and responses are currently being considered.There are currently no plans to include all agricultural vehicles. However, the provisions could be extended in the future, through secondary legislation, where evidence shows this is necessary.I also welcome the recent commitment by chief constables across England and Wales, to pursue any available evidence where there is a reasonable chance it could lead them to catching a perpetrator and solving a crime. This relates to all crimes, no matter where they are committed.

Police: Career Development

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of direct entry routes into police ranks of (a) inspector and (b) superintendent.

Chris Philp: As police demand is changing and becoming increasingly complex, it is vital that we have forces that are fit for the future. Forces need to recruit the best and most able people. This is why there must be a wide choice of entry routes available into policing, helping to ensure that we can draw on the widest talent available.The College of Policing’s Direct Entry Programmes at inspector and superintendent rank demonstrated that it is possible to successfully recruit high calibre leaders from outside of policing to senior roles. The full evaluation reports of the two programmes were published in the House on 20 July 2020 -Deposited paper DEP2020-0445 - Deposited papers - UK ParliamentFollowing the evaluation, the schemes were paused whilst the College undertook a consultation with the service, to explore the potential for a viable and sustainable delivery model in future years. The College remain committed to delivering Direct Entry pathways if there is demand from forces in future, and will re-engage with forces on the future delivery of national Direct Entry programmes when other ongoing leadership development, promotion and progression initiatives have been embedded in policing.

Police: Sports

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department issues guidance on the criteria to be taken into consideration for decisions on policing sporting events.

Chris Philp: The College of Policing is the organisation which sets standards and publishes police guidance and is operationally independent. The College has recently worked with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to publish the National Protest Operational Advice document (National protest operational advice (college.police.uk), which provides operational guidance on the handling of protests, including those that disrupt major events.In addition, the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice on Public Order Public Safety (Public order public safety | College of Policing) was updated on 8 June 2023 and provides guidance on the policing of major events. The document signposts to the National Protest Operational Advice document.On 5 July 2023, The Home Secretary chaired a roundtable with cabinet colleagues, the police and sports representatives. The Home Office is committed to working with partners to ensure lessons are learnt and partners proactively work together to minimise disruption to sporting events (Home Secretary backs action to protect sport from disruption - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)).

Fire and Rescue Services: Maternity Pay

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 8 of the report Fight for 52, published by the Fire Brigades Union on 14 September 2023, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of variations in the level of maternity pay for firefighters.

Chris Philp: Setting fire pay and conditions, including setting a minimum national maternity entitlement, is the responsibility of employers, working through the National Joint Council. The Home Office plays no role in the negotiation or funding of firefighter pay.

Facebook

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-crime hate incidents relating to posts made on Facebook were investigated by the police in each year for which records exist.

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-crime hate incidents relating to posts made on X were investigated by the police in each year for which records exist.

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-crime hate incidents relating to posts made on TikTok were investigated by the police in each year for which records exist.

Chris Philp: The Home Office does not centrally collect data on non-crime hate incidents from the police.A review into the recording of NCHI, reporting to the Policing Minister, is underway.

Driving: Crimes of Violence

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of assaults recorded by motorists against protestors undertaking non-violent direct action involving the obstruction of public highways since February 2022.

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made any specialist training available to police forces on (a) defusing tensions between motorists and protestors undertaking non-violent direct action involving the obstruction of public highways and (b) preventing the use of vehicles as weapons against such protestors.

Chris Philp: It is regrettable that frustrated members of the public have been seen physically confronting protesters. While the government understands the frustration caused by protesters who use highly disruptive tactics to stop hard-working people going about their lives, there is no justification for acts of violence.The police have comprehensive powers to deal with any individual who exhibits violent or threatening behaviour. The College of Policing is the organisation which sets standards and publishes police guidance and is operationally independent. The College has recently worked with the National Police Chiefs' Council to publish National Protest Operational Advice (Public order public safety | College of Policing), which provides operational guidance on dealing with protests, including ensuring the safety of all those present.In addition, the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice on Public Order Public Safety (Public order public safety | College of Policing) was updated on 8 June 2023 and provides guidance on the policing of major events. The document signposts to the National Protest Operational Advice document.The Government has recently introduced new legislation in the form of the Public Order Act 2023 and amended existing provisions in the Public Order Act 1986 to ensure that the police have the powers they need to deal with highly disruptive protests. By giving the police these new powers, we will reduce the likelihood of frustrated members of the public engaging in violent or threatening behaviour in response to disruptive protests. In some cases, the use of these new powers has enabled police to clear the streets of protesters in as little as three minutes.The Home Office does not hold any data on the number of assaults recorded by motorists against protesters. A review into the recording of NCHI, reporting to the Policing Minister, is underway.

Forensic Science

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of capacity in UKAS accredited forensic science police laboratories; and whether there is a backlog in cases as of 17 October 2023.

Chris Philp: The Home Office does not hold data on capacity at police laboratories and the deployment of resources on forensic science activities is for individual forces and Police and Crime Commissioners to determine. However, the Forensics Reform Programme Board has oversight of strategic capacity issues. Through this Board we have assessed that there are capacity shortfalls in some areas of forensics, including digital.The Home Office has invested £4.33m in 2022/23 and £3.2m for 2023/24 to the police-led Forensic Capability Network which provides ongoing support to over 4,000 forensics professionals by coordinating a wide range of national activities. BlueLight Commercial works with the National Police Chief’s Council and the Forensics Capability Network to manages forensic science contracts and other commercial functions in England and Wales.

Wholesale Trade: Theft

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of thefts of (a) tobacco and alcohol and (b) other stock within the wholesale sector; and if she will meet with the Federation of Wholesale Distributors to discuss steps to reduce these levels.

Chris Philp: The Home Office collects and publishes data on the most commonly stolen items in theft incidents for all sectors, combined, as part of the Commercial Victimisation Survey (CVS). The data was most recently published in May 2023 and is available at:Crime against businesses: findings from the 2022 Commercial Victimisation Survey - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)The sample size of the CVS is not large enough to yield reliable estimates and to assess trends in specific items that are stolen of the Wholesale sector specifically.The Home Office works closely with retailers and trade organisations, and police partners via the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) to ensure that the response to crimes affecting the retail sector is as robust as it can be. The Federation of Wholesale Distributors is represented on the NRCSG.On a national level, the Home Office works closely with the police-led National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) to understand the crimes affecting businesses and help ensure businesses and police are working effectively together. The NBCC has published guidance on how to prevent wholesale and warehouse thefts on its website: NBCC National Business Crime Centre

Hate Crime

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to combat the rise in hate crimes following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October.

Chris Philp: The Government is clear that all forms of hate crime, including antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate crime, are completely unacceptable. We expect the police fully to investigate these abhorrent offences and make sure those who commit them feel the full force of the law.In light of the horrific Hamas terrorist acts in Israel and related reports of increased incidents of antisemitism in the UK, the Prime Minister has announced additional funding of £3 million for the Community Security Trust to provide additional security at Jewish schools, synagogues and other sites. The Home Secretary also chairs the Jewish Community Crime, Policing and Security Taskforce. This meeting brings together Government, law enforcement and the Community Security Trust in order to address Jewish community security concerns.The Government is also concerned about increased reports of anti-Muslim hatred. The Home Office has extended the deadline for the protective security for mosques scheme and invite mosques and Muslim faith community centres to register for protective security measures. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has allocated over £6m to Tell MAMA since their inception in 2012 for their vital work monitoring and supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred.We are continuing to support the police to ensure they have the resources and tools required to tackle any incidents relating to the ongoing conflict. Where people incite racial or religious hatred or where people’s conduct is threatening, abusive or disorderly and causes distress to others, we expect the police to take action to ensure perpetrators can be brought to justice.More broadly, the Government continues to fund True Vision, an online hate crime reporting portal, designed so that victims of hate crime do not have to visit a police station to report. We also continue to fund the National Online Hate Crime Hub, a central capability designed to support individual local police forces in dealing with online hate crime. The Hub provides expert advice to police forces to support them in investigating these offences.

Just Stop Oil: Demonstrations

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were arrested in connection with protests organised by Just Stop Oil in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were arrested in connection with protests organised by Extinction Rebellion in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

Chris Philp: The Home Office does not hold a complete data set of all arrests made related to these groups for the time periods requested.However, in January 2023, the police reported that around 2000 individuals were arrested during 2022 relating to JSO protests by 15 different forces for a range of criminal offences. This includes 31 individuals who were arrested in advance of JSO protests and had equipment seized before it could be used to cause disruption.Additionally, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) reported that over 13 weeks between May and July 2023, 271 arrests were made in response to JSOs 91 days of consecutive slow marches in London. Of those arrests, 174 have been charged to date with a breach of conditions. A further 82 remain on bail. These numbers were correct as of 23 August 2023. The lower number of arrests so far in 2023, reflect the MPS’s use of powers to impose conditions on public possessions. Further information is set out here: Policing Just Stop Oil protests has cost Met £7.7 million | Metropolitan PoliceThe Home Office does not centrally hold information relation to protests by Extinction Rebellion. However, it was reported by the London Assembly ( Policing Just Stop Oil protests has cost Met £7.7 million | Metropolitan Police) that there were 243 arrests in total made between January and September 2022.

Security: EU Countries

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she made of the effectiveness of the arrangements to perform real-time security checks with EU countries.

Tom Tugendhat: The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides a comprehensive package of capabilities that ensures we can work with counterparts across Europe to tackle crime and terrorism, protecting the public and bringing criminals to justice.The UK and EU Member States routinely exchange information on persons of interest, including missing and wanted individuals, and on lost and stolen documents using the INTERPOL system. There is an automated upload of incoming INTERPOL circulations to UK domestic systems. Information is available via policing systems within minutes of receipt and is available at the border within 24 hours. If the National Crime Agency is notified a case is urgent, then specific alerts can be uploaded to domestic systems more rapidly.Delivery of technical capabilities through the International Law Enforcement Alerts Platform (I-LEAP) is further enhancing the UK’s connectivity to INTERPOL by providing UK law enforcement with real-time access to INTERPOL nominal data (people) and objects of interest (stolen motor vehicles; stolen, lost and fraudulent travel documents).

Immigration: Applications

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Home Office response to report on the re-inspection of family reunion applications published on 21 February 2023, what recent progress her Department has made towards (a) implementing the recommendations made by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration and (b) ensuring that family reunion applications are processed within the service standard of 12 weeks.

Robert Jenrick: The Government’s refugee family reunion policy provides a safe and legal route to bring families together. The Secretary of State for the Home Department has fully accepted all the recommendations made in the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration regarding family reunion applications.Following the recommendations made, the department has undertaken a review of its’ resourcing for consideration of Family Reunion visa applications and is increasing staffing levels. We have also reviewed processes and are developing our work in this area to enable us to provide a better service to our customers.We prioritise all applications where the application has been made by an unaccompanied child, under the age of 18. We will also prioritise applications where there is an evidenced urgent or compelling reason.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration on a date for publication of his inspection of her Department's Afghan resettlement schemes.

Robert Jenrick: The Department is considering the ICIBI's findings and recommendations.The Secretary of State for the Home Department has not discussed a date for publication with the ICIBI, but the report will be laid before Parliament as soon as the consideration has been completed.

Asylum: Applications

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications were rejected on the grounds of a false claim of LGB in each year since 2010.

Robert Jenrick: The Home Office publishes data on LGB asylum claims in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on initial decisions (including refusals) on asylum applications where sexual orientation formed part of the basis for the claim is published in table SOC_02 of the ‘asylum and resettlement detailed datasets’. Please note that information on the reason for refusal is not published and therefore the statistics do not separately identify refusals on the grounds of false claims from refusals for other reasons. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to 2022. Data prior to 2015 is not published. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

UK Border Force: Deployment

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK Border Force staff have been posted to (a) Belgium, (b) Germany, (c) the Netherlands and (d) France in each of the last five years.

Robert Jenrick: For security reasons, the Home Office does not provide figures of how many staff have worked or are currently working at overseas deployments. The Home Office continues to ensure appropriate overseas staff resourcing deployments are maintained.

Refugees: Afghanistan

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2023 to Question 200463 on Refugees: Afghanistan, if she will take steps to establish the number of Afghan people based in Pakistan awaiting applications to be processed by the Visa Application Centre.

Robert Jenrick: The number of Afghans awaiting applications to be processed at Visa Application Centre is internal management information and is not for public release at this time. Cross government work continues at pace to provide resettlement to those located in third countries. Data on Afghanistan resettlement is released quarterly and the latest release is available to view at: Afghan Resettlement Programme: operational data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Refugees: Afghanistan

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been relocated to the UK under Pathway (a) 2 and (b) 3 of the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme as of 19 October 2023.

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the first Afghans arrived in the UK under pathway (a) two and (b) three of the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme.

Robert Jenrick: The UK has made one of the largest commitments of any country to support those impacted by events in Afghanistan.The latest published Operational data fact sheet on Afghan resettlement schemes shows the following by ACRS pathway, we have now resettled: 9,676 individuals under ACRS Pathway 1, 66 individuals under ACRS Pathway 2 and 41 individuals under ACRS Pathway 3.Operational data is viewable at: Afghan Resettlement Programme: operational data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Afghan operational data is released quarterly with the next publication due around the 23rd November 2023.The data requested on arrival dates of pathway 2 and pathway 3 is not anticipated to be publicly released in future iterations of the quarterly Immigration system statistics. It is collected for internal and operational use only. However, arrivals by quarter can be found within the immigration statistics. Immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Treasury

Osteoporosis: Fractures

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the potential impact of (a) people leaving work and (b) sick days taken due to osteoporotic fractures on tax revenues.

Victoria Atkins: The government does not have estimates for the impact on tax revenues of osteoporotic fractures. However, the government recognises the importance of boosting people’s health for their own benefit, as well as for the wider labour market and the Exchequer. At the Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced a range of measures to support improved population health outcomes and increase the employment rate and hours worked among those with a health condition or disability. For musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in particular, this included scaling up MSK hubs in the community and ensuring digital resources such as apps for management of mental health and MSK conditions are readily available.

Financial Services: Regulation

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of firms regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority are SMEs.

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many criminal investigations the Financial Conduct Authority opened into individuals in each year since 2013.

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions the outcome of a Financial Conduct Authority action was the (a) cancellation or withdrawal of approvals, (b) a prohibition order, (c) suspension or restriction, (d) a final notice against a person, (e) a fine against a person, (f) public censure and (g) civil action in the 2021-22 financial year.

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many investigations were opened by the Financial Conduct Authority into people with (a) senior and (b) non-senior management functions under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime in (i) 2021-22 and (ii) 2022-23.

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) financial penalties, (b) public censures and (c) other enforcement measures were taken following investigations by the Financial Conduct Authority into people with (i) senior and (ii) non-senior management functions under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime in (A) 2021-22 and (B) 2022-23.

Andrew Griffith: These questions are matters for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is independent from Government. The FCA will respond to the Right Honourable Member by letter, and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

Public Sector: Pay

Beth Winter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to fund pay increases for public sector workers at the rate of inflation or greater in the Autumn Statement 2023.

Beth Winter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to increase public sector pay in 2024-25 by at least the September 2023 growth in average earnings.

John Glen: Pay for most frontline workforces is set through an independent Pay Review Body (PRB) process. The PRBs consider a range of evidence when forming their recommendations, including the need to recruit, retain and motivate suitably able and qualified people; the financial circumstances of Government; the Government's policies for improving public services; and the Government's inflation target. The Government values the expert advice of the PRBs and accepted their headline recommendations in full for the 2023-24 pay round, leading to some of the highest public sector pay uplifts in three decades. We will be remitting the PRBs for the 2024-25 pay round in due course

Plastics: Taxation

Ruth Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the Plastic Packaging Tax in raising the volume of recycled plastic used in packaging materials.

Gareth Davies: The Plastic Packaging Tax was introduced in April 2022 to encourage businesses to include more recycled plastic in packaging. This will increase demand for recycled plastic, which will stimulate increased levels of recycling and collection of plastic waste. In April 2023 the government announced it will evaluate the Plastic Packaging Tax, using analysis of environmental and tax data to assess the impact of the measure. Further information will be available in the evaluation plan, which will be published in due course.

Plastics: Taxation

Ruth Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what revenue was generated by the Plastic Packaging Tax in 2022-23.

Gareth Davies: The data requested is available in the HM Revenue and Customs publication: Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) Statistics. Please refer to Table 1 & 2 of the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) statistics tables in this publication.

Treasury: Press and Television

Cat Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what subscriptions to (a) magazines, (b) television channels and (c) newspaper his Department pays for.

Gareth Davies: HMT does not hold the level of detail requested when related to the expenditure on its subscriptions.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to ensure that any underspend of the allocated Equitable Life compensation will be distributed amongst policyholders.

Andrew Griffith: The Government allocated £1.5 billion to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. Before it ceased operations in 2016, the Scheme issued £1.12 billion in tax-free payments to nearly 933,000 policyholders. The remainder of the £1.5 billion has been set aside for future payments to the With-Profits Annuitants. Further information is available in the Final Report on the Scheme (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equitable-life-payment-scheme-final-report).

North Sea Oil: Tax Allowances

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the value of tax relief available for the development of the Rosebank oil field under the investment allowance; and if he will place a copy of that estimate in the Library of the House.

Gareth Davies: Estimates of the cost of tax reliefs available to oil and gas companies under the Ring-Fence Corporation Tax (RFCT) and the Supplementary Charge (SC) are published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-relief-statistics. These estimates do not separate out specific projects or taxpayers to protect taxpayer confidentiality.

Taxation

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to vote in support of initiating multilateral negotiations on a framework convention on tax at the UN General Assembly in November 2023.

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government supports the creation of a tax framework at the (a) UN and (b) OECD level.

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 61 of the report of the United Nations Secretary-General on Promotion of inclusive and effective international tax cooperation at the United Nations, published on 8 August 2023, whether the Government has made an assessment of the compatibility of the options in the table with UK tax policy.

Victoria Atkins: The Government believes international cooperation is important in tackling global tax challenges, and actively engages with the OECD’s and UN’s work on tax policy. The Government is committed to ensuring internationalensuring international tax rules and standards are effective as well as inclusive. To this end, the Government has supported consensus-based reform of the international tax rules through the OECD, including through the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework (with over 130 members) and the Global Forum (with over 160 members), in which non-OECD members participate on an equal footing. This reflects the strong expertise that sits within the OECD and the steps taken in recent years to become ever more inclusive of the needs of developing countries.

Carbon Emissions: Taxation

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to introduce a UK carbon border adjustment mechanism; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Davies: The government has recently consulted on potential future measures to mitigate carbon leakage risks, including the potential for a UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The consultation received more than 160 responses from the UK and overseas, including responses from a range of industry sectors and from civil society. The government is considering the evidence to inform policy decisions and will respond in due course.

Business Rates

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of retaining the business rates multiplier at the current level for the 2024-25 financial year.

Victoria Atkins: The Government has taken action to hold the tax rate steady over the last three years, protecting businesses from inflationary pressures at a cost of £14.5 billion to the Exchequer. Most recently, the Government froze the business rates multiplier for a third consecutive year in 2023-24, a tax cut worth £9.3 billion to business over the next 5 years. This will support all ratepayers, large and small, with the revaluation in 2023, meaning bills are 6 per cent lower, before any reliefs or supplements are applied, than without the freeze. Decisions on the level of the multiplier for 2024-25 will be made in due course.

Business Rates: Tax Allowances

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing further business rate reliefs to support (a) small businesses, (b) other businesses, (c) high streets and town centres and (d) local authorities.

Victoria Atkins: At Autumn Statement 2022, the Government announced a package of changes and tax cuts worth £13.6 billion over the next five years, including:a freeze to the business rates multiplier for 2023-24, a tax cut worth £9.3 billion over the next 5 years, meaning all bills are 6% lower than without the freeze;an increased 75% relief for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) properties, up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business for 2023-24. This is a tax cut worth over £2 billion for around 230,000 RHL businesses, to support the high street and protect small shops.an Exchequer funded Transitional Relief scheme worth £1.6 billion to protect an estimated 700,000 ratepayers facing bill increases due to increases in rateable value. The Government has announced that it will permanently scrap ‘downwards caps’ which had restricted falling bills in previous schemes. This will benefit around 300,000 ratepayers who will see their full bill decrease from April 2023.providing over £500 million of support over the next three years with a new Supporting Small Business scheme. This will cap bill increases to £50 per month (£600 per year) for businesses losing some or all of their Small Business or Rural Rate Relief due to the revaluation. Decisions on future business rates support will be made in due course.

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Damian Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the average time taken for HMRC to answer phone calls; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins: HMRC takes the quality of customer service very seriously.HMRC is working to improve call answer rates, primarily through supporting customers who can use digital services to do so in the first instance. This will reduce call numbers and allow HMRC to focus their telephone support on those with more complex circumstances, or who are unable to engage digitally. Many customers already use HMRC digital services, with high customer satisfaction scores, consistently around 80%.Furthermore, an increasing number of customers are using the HMRC mobile app – with more than 1 million new users and more than 56 million logins in 2022 to 2023. The app enables customers to perform tasks on their smartphones or tablets for which they previously needed to call us, such as, view their PAYE tax code and annual tax summary, manage details for tax credits and Child Benefit, file their Self Assessment return, pay their tax bill and use a tax calculator.HMRC performance, including average speed to answer calls, is published on a quarterly basis at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates

Exports

Afzal Khan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish a list of the ten largest exporters of goods in each region of the UK.

Victoria Atkins: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC releases this information monthly, as a National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria and download bulk datasets. Under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (CRCA), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has a statutory duty of confidentiality to protect the information it holds about taxpayers. As a result, it is not possible to confirm the ten largest exporters of goods in each region of the UK without the request identifying information relating to an individual taxpayer or taxpayers.

Energy: Tax Allowances

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of the Energy Profits Levy investment allowance relief in the 2022-23 financial year.

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of the investment allowance relief under the Energy Profits Levy in each financial year to 2025/2026; and if he will place a copy of that estimate in the Library of the House.

Gareth Davies: Estimates of the cost of tax reliefs used by oil and gas companies under the Ring Fence tax regime are published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-relief-statistics.

Disguised Remuneration Loan Charge Review

Drew Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to issue a Command Paper in relation to the Disguised remuneration: independent loan charge review.

Victoria Atkins: The loan charge was independently reviewed by Lord Amyas Morse in 2019, who assessed the impact of the policy on affected taxpayers. The Government accepted all but one of the Review’s 20 recommendations. To bring the Review’s publication to the attention of Parliament, a Written Statement was made on the day (20 December 2019: UIN HCWS14). The Statement is available here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2019-12-20/hcws14. There are no plans to issue a command paper.

UK Spirits Alliance

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will meet the UK Spirits Alliance to discuss the rate of duty on spirits.

Gareth Davies: The Government consulted extensively and took account of evidence from a wider range of stakeholders, including spirits producers, and a variety of data sets as part of the tax policy making process on the new alcohol duty system. The response to the final consultation can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1145222/M5209_M5348_Alcohol_Duty_Review_consultation_response_FINAL.pdf.HM Treasury keeps all taxes, including alcohol duties, under review and welcomes stakeholders' views as part of the annual Budget representations process. Guidance on submitting Budget representations is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/autumn-statement-2023-representations/guidance-for-submitting-autumn-statement-2023-representations-to-the-treasury Stakeholders can make representations, which form part of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s considerations.

Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the August 2023 changes to alcohol duty on inflation.

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Brexit Pubs Guarantee on the price of spirits in pubs.

Gareth Davies: The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes when the policy is final or near final. The summary of impacts from the latest changes to alcohol duty at Spring Budget 2023 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/increase-in-alcohol-duty-rates/alcohol-duty-uprating The Government will evaluate the impact of the new rates and structures three years after the changes. Which came into place 1 August 2023. This will allow time to understand the impacts in the alcohol market and for HMRC to gather useful and accurate data with which to evaluate.

Armed Forces Compensation Scheme

Owen Thompson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many spouses of deceased armed forces personnel have been taxed on their Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments in each of the last five years.

Victoria Atkins: There are several types of support available to spouses of deceased armed forces personnel through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. The tax treatment depends on the type of support. The Government has published statistics on claims and awards made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme which can be found in the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) annual bulletin published 6 July 2023. However, the Government does not collect the data on how many spouses have been taxed on payments made through the ACFS because the tax position depends on the individual’s circumstances.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Incentives

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2022 to Question 107061 on Attorney General: Incentives, how much the Government Legal Department spent on purchasing non-cash vouchers for staff as reward and recognition bonuses in 2022-23.

Michael Tomlinson: Purchasing non-cash vouchers as reward and recognition bonuses for staff is standard practice across Government.The Government Legal Department spent £240,605 on purchasing non-cash vouchers for staff as reward and recognition bonuses in 2022-23.

Hare Coursing: Convictions and Prosecutions

Richard Fuller: To ask the Attorney General, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been relating to the offence of hare coursing in each year from 2016 to date.

Michael Tomlinson: Offences of hare coursing may be prosecuted using offences created by the Game Act 1831, the Night Poaching Act 1828 and the Hunting Act 2004.The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of prosecutions for offences of hare coursing. This information could only be obtained by examining CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Prosecutions: Standards

Justin Madders: To ask the Attorney General, if she will make an estimate of the average length of time between a case being referred to the Crown Prosecution Service and a prosecution decision being reached.

Michael Tomlinson: The average number of days (in calendar days) from a case being referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision or early advice and decision to charge and prosecute being reached in the period 2022-2023 (1 April 2022 – 30 March 2023) was 45 days.

Serious Fraud Office: Legal Costs

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney General, what estimate she has made of the total costs incurred by the Serious Fraud Office in pursuing the cases dropped on 24 August 2023 against (a) the Alpha and Green Park Group of companies, (b) ENRC and (c) Rio Tinto.

Michael Tomlinson: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) does not disclose the costs associated with its cases as this risks prejudicing the administration of justice and is against the public interest. Information on how the SFO uses resources is published in aggregate in its Annual Report and Accounts.

Ministry of Defence

Military Exercises: Conventional Weapons

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) tank shells, (b) 81mm mortar, (c) javelin, (d) 5.56 x 45mm rounds and (e) Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems were fired on training exercises in each year since 2015.

James Cartlidge: The requested information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Nutrition

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the recommended calorific intake was for a British Army Soldier in each year since 2015.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Since 2017, the calorie intake for Service Personnel has been based on the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition's statement on 'Military Dietary Reference Values for Energy'. This states that for those in Active Service the recommended daily calorie intake is between 3,300-3,800 calories for males and 2,600-2,900 for females. This document can be found on the Government website with the relevant table on page 9: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a8009db40f0b6230269123b/SACN_military_DRVs_for_energy_position_statement.pdf Prior to 2017 and this report, the recommended calorie intake for personnel was between 2,620-2,810 for males and 1,940-2,060 for females.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) army, (b) RAF and (c) Royal Navy careers fairs were carried out in each year since 2015.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Estimates from the single Services are provided in the tables below:  Army Calendar YearNumber of Events20151,33120162,95320171,335201821120194712020422202150520221,47120231,971 Note: The low numbers recorded over 2018-19 are due to a switch of recording system. The 2020-21 numbers were significantly reduced due to COVID-19.  Royal Air Force Financial Year (FY)Number of Events2018-192752019-202252020-211102021-221302022-232202023-24201 Note: Information prior to FY 2018-19 cannot be collated in the time available. The 2020-21 numbers were significantly reduced due to COVID-19. Figures include a variety of events from air shows, country shows, sporting events as well as the range of Graduate, Jobs, UCAS, Careers, Skills, Medical, Nursing and Apprenticeship Fairs.  Royal Navy Calendar YearNumber of Events202068202128220226982023 (to 17 October)595 Note: No consistent data on outreach event attendance is held prior to April 2020. The 2020 numbers were significantly reduced due to COVID-19.

Armed Forces: Disciplinary Proceedings

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel are suspended from active duty due to an ongoing criminal investigation as of 17 October 2023.

Dr Andrew Murrison: As of 17 October 2023, there were approximately 60 Service personnel recorded as suspended from duty due to an ongoing criminal investigation, or post criminal investigation where justified.

British Nationals Abroad: Armed Forces

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British nationals are serving in (a) the French Foreign Legion and (b) other foreign militaries, by national military, as of 17 October 2023.

James Heappey: This is not a matter for the Ministry of Defence, therefore the information is not held.

Middle East: Security

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure regional security in the Middle East in addition to the deployment of Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels to the eastern Mediterranean.

James Heappey: The UK has deployed a significant support package to the region, including RAF surveillance aircraft in addition to the Royal Navy ships. They will be there to support regional stability and help prevent escalation. Royal Navy ships are configured for a range of scenarios including humanitarian and disaster relief operations.The UK is regularly engaging at all levels with our Defence partners in the Middle East and will continue to do so as the current situation develops.We are working with our international partners to prevent this situation spreading and causing wider instability. We remain committed to making progress towards a two-state solution.

Royal Hospital School: Greenwich Hospital

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2023 to Question 202922 on Navy: Greenwich Hospital, how much funding the Royal Hospital School received from the Greenwich Hospital Charity in (a) bursaries, (b) the use of buildings and (c) other benefits in kind in the most recent financial year for which data is available.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Greenwich Hospital (GH) provides funding for bursaries for eligible children of Royal Navy personnel, which was £1.02 million in 2021-22. The Royal Hospital School (RHS) site was purpose built by GH in the 1930s and there is no charge for use of the land or buildings. GH also provides benefits to some RHS non-teaching staff via a legacy pension scheme. The GH Annual Report and Accounts for 2021-22 were laid before Parliament on 23 October 2023, which set out relevant costs associated with the RHS, including details of pension schemes. RHS is not a separate legal entity to GH so the accounts show a consolidated view of income and expenditure, but the finances of each entity are managed separately.

Challenger Tanks

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure the (a) timely delivery and (b) quality of Challenger 2 hulls to Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land for upgrade to Challenger 3 specification.

James Cartlidge: As with all Government Furnished Equipment, timely delivery and quality are closely monitored. Defence Equipment and Support works with industry partners to ensure performance through routine day-to-day engagement and regular programme reviews.

Defence: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what mechanisms his Department have to enforce industrial participation as part of the revised Industrial Participation Policy trial.

James Cartlidge: The revised Industrial Participation Policy which is currently being piloted asks companies to set voluntary targets for UK content and articulate their plans for opening up opportunities for the UK supply chain pre-contract; they would then be supported by the Government to deliver on these plans and regularly assessed against them. As voluntary targets these will be non-contractual but will be regularly reported on.

Defence: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department have made of the potential merits of mandating industrial participation as part of defence contracts.

James Cartlidge: The revised Industrial Participation Policy which is currently being piloted asks companies to set voluntary targets for UK content and articulate their plans for opening up opportunities for the UK supply chain. This is distinct from the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) requirement in some areas to maintain specific industrial capabilities onshore. Under the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy, the MOD set out the concepts of Strategic Imperatives and Operational Independence for which the UK must maintain an appropriate degree of control over industrial capability. MOD is clear about those critical capabilities that will need to be procured onshore to protect the UK's operational independence and freedom of action.

Defence: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to publish details of the revised Industrial Participation Policy after trials have ended.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, will he plans to publish the revised Industrial Participation Policy.

James Cartlidge: The Ministry of Defence will publish details of the revised Industrial Participation Policy at the conclusion of the pilot phase.

Defence: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to conclude its revised Industrial Participation Policy trials.

James Cartlidge: The Ministry of Defence plans to reflect on the piloting of the revised Industrial Participation Policy at the conclusion of the pilot phase, currently planned to be no later than summer 2024.

Armed Forces: Housing

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2023 to Question 202812 on Armed Forces: Housing, how many service personnel live in single living accommodation (a) overseas and (b) in total.

Dr Andrew Murrison: It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

Ministry of Defence: Contracts

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many defence contracts are being used as part of his Department's revised industrial participation policy; with which companies they were placed; and for what work they cover.

James Cartlidge: A small number of Ministry of Defence procurement programmes are currently involved in piloting the revised Industrial Participation Policy. No contracts have yet been awarded for these procurement programmes.

Ministry of Defence: Railways

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many rail facilities his Department (a) owns and (b) has access to.

James Cartlidge: Defence utilises rail inside nine Defence owned locations: Ashchurch; Bicester; Defence Munitions (DM) Longtown; DM Kineton; DM Glen Douglas; Ludgershall; Warminster (Imber Lines); Redmire (Catterick) and Ayrshire Barracks, Monchengladbach. Defence will utilise numerous commercial rail heads as required.

Ministry of Defence: Railways

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the importance of rail assets for the delivery of defence outcomes.

James Cartlidge: Defence has conducted numerous studies into the conduct of a Strategic Base Outload, which has rail as an integral part. Defence is in the process of conducting a Capability Investigation into rail capability requirements to enable a multi-modal transportation network to meet future Defence objectives. The use of rail, both commercial and with military capability, will remain an important element in achieving Defence Outputs.

Royal Hospital School: Children

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2023 to Question 202922 on Navy: Greenwich Hospital, how many children attending the Royal Hospital School have a connection with the Royal Navy.

Dr Andrew Murrison: There are currently 37 students attending the Royal Hospital School who are the children of serving Royal Navy or Royal Marines personnel. There may be others with a Royal Navy connection, but this would not be recorded separately.

Ministry of Defence: Railways

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many trained railway engineers his Department employs.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Defence outsourced its rail capability following SDSR 10 and does not employ any railway mechanical engineers. Defence does employ a professional rail civil engineer who is responsible for the licensing of the infrastructure at the nine Defence owned railway facilities to ensure they remain compliant with statutory safety standards. Defence has also retained a specialist Army reserve sub-unit who are responsible for the repair and construction of railway infrastructure during both peace and times of crisis.

Ministry of Defence: Railways

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many trained train drivers his Department employs.

Dr Andrew Murrison: Defence does not employ train drivers.

Ministry of Defence: Railways

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many railway (a) locomotives, (b) carriages, (c) containers his Department holds in its inventory.

James Cartlidge: Defence currently holds 14 locomotives, 56 Warwell and 56 Warflat platforms on its inventory. They have been provided to Leidos as Government Furnished Assets as part of the Logistic Commodities and Services Transformation (LCS(T)) programme.

Ministry of Defence: Railways

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what railway logistics capabilities his Department holds.

James Cartlidge: Defence’s current railway logistics capability is provided by Team Leidos under the Logistic Commodities and Services Transformation LCS(T) contract. This covers rail movement both within the UK and as necessary overseas.

Armed Forces: Housing

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2022 to Question 75786 on Armed Forces: Housing, how many and what proportion of those living in Single Living Accommodation categorised as Grade 4 and below Grade 4 incurred no rental charge as of 16 October 2023.

Dr Andrew Murrison: It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Members Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

Royal Hospital School

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2023 to question 202922 on Navy: Greenwich Hospital, on what date he last reviewed the Royal Hospital School's child safeguarding policies.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Director of Greenwich Hospital, who is empowered to act for the Secretary of State and who is the registered proprietor of the school, commissioned an independent assessment of the Royal Hospital School safeguarding policies in July 2023. Following a recommendation of this review, a new dedicated safeguarding governor has been appointed and the relevant policies were updated in September 2023.

Armed Forces: Housing

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2022 to Question 97438 on Armed Forces: Housing, how many armed forces personnel live in single living accommodation in each region as recorded on the joint personnel administration system.

Dr Andrew Murrison: It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Members Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.

Royal Hospital School: Inspections

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2023 to Question 202922 on Navy: Greenwich Hospital, when he last reviewed the Royal Hospital School's most recent Ofsted inspection report.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Royal Hospital School (RHS) was last assessed by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in November 2021. The report can be found at: https://www.royalhospitalschool.org/about/inspection2021 The information specifically regarding when the Secretary of State last reviewed the RHS’ most recent inspection report, is not held.

Navy: Home Country Nationals

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy laundrymen from (a) China and (b) Hong Kong were refused security clearance in the last 12 months; and what the average length of service was of people who were refused that clearance.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Royal Navy contracts its laundry services to NAAFI, who are responsible for the employment of laundrymen, including applying for their security clearances. The Royal Navy has not refused any security clearances for laundrymen from China and Hong Kong in the last 12 months.

Defence: Buildings

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his predecessor (a) received requests from and (b) made representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss the (i) presence and (ii) potential cost implications of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) within the defence estate between 13 February 2020 and 5 July 2022.

James Cartlidge: For now, the focus is on bringing together the information we hold about the Government estate into one place. This work is being coordinated by the Office for Government Property.Surveys are currently being conducted to identify buildings which may have been constructed with RAAC on Ministry of Defence land.

Defence: Buildings

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take to respond to the potential presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete on the defence estate.

James Cartlidge: For now, the focus is on bringing together the information we hold about the Government estate into one place. This work is being coordinated by the Office for Government Property.Surveys are currently being conducted on all buildings which may have been constructed using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).We take safety extremely seriously and, based on our current information, RAAC has not traditionally been used by the MOD in the construction of domestic structure, and it is therefore highly unlikely that any Service Family Accommodation is affected. The majority of Single Living Accommodation was not constructed during the review period.

Clyde Naval Base and RNAD Coulport: Buildings

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the condition of defence estate buildings at (a) HM Naval Base Clyde and (b) Royal Naval Armaments Depot Coulport constructed (i) in part and (ii) wholly by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

James Cartlidge: For now, the focus is on bringing together the information we hold about the Government estate into one place. This work is being coordinated by the Office for Government Property.Surveys are currently being conducted to identify buildings which may have been constructed with RAAC on Ministry of Defence (MOD) land.The Defence Infrastructure Organisation Infrastructure Management System has been used to determine what Ministry of Defence (MOD) buildings might potentially contain Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) material, based on the period in which they were constructed and their construction type. HMNB Clyde including Coulport has been included within the assessments to ascertain if they have been constructed with RAAC.

Defence: Buildings

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the extent of the use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) on buildings in the Defence Estate.

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the number of buildings on the Defence Estate that have been constructed (a) partly and (b) wholly of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.

James Cartlidge: For now, the focus is on bringing together the information we hold about the Government estate into one place. This work is being coordinated by the Office for Government Property. Surveys are currently being conducted on all buildings which may have been constructed using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). We take safety extremely seriously and, based on our current information, RAAC has not traditionally been used by the MOD in the construction of domestic structure, and it is therefore highly unlikely that any Service Family Accommodation is affected. The majority of Single Living Accommodation was not constructed during the review period.

Queen Victoria School: Buildings

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many buildings in the Queen Victoria boarding school have been identified as at risk of collapse due to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

James Cartlidge: One building in the Queen Victoria boarding school, the play-hall, has been identified as containing Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).The play-hall is not currently being used.

Ministry of Defence: Schools

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has instructed any school (a) funded by his department and (b) ran by the Defence Children's Services to conduct a survey of its buildings to identify the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

James Cartlidge: Surveys are currently being conducted to identify buildings which may have been constructed with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) on Ministry of Defence land. This includes all Schools and Creche facilities funded by the Department or run by the Defence Children's Services.We take safety extremely seriously and, based on our current information, RAAC has not traditionally been used by the MOD in the construction of domestic structure, and it is therefore highly unlikely that any Service Family Accommodation is affected. The majority of Single Living Accommodation was not constructed during the review period.

Ministry of Defence: Schools

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department was first informed that (a) Ministry of Defence funded boarding schools and (b) schools run by the Defence Children's Services contained buildings constructed using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is aware of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete being present in any of his Department's boarding schools other than the Queen Victoria School.

James Cartlidge: On 20 April 2023, in a specialist survey report issued by AECOM, it was determined that a Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) roof plank had failed in the play-hall at Queen Victoria School (QVS). Immediate action was taken and the play-hall was entirely taken out of use by the QVS Head of Establishment on 20 April 2023. Until all additional surveys have been completed, we cannot confirm the number of Defence Children Services (DCS) buildings affected.

Defence: Buildings

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2023 to Question 181192 on Military Bases: Concrete, how much his Department has spent conducting surveys of buildings on the Defence Estate containing RAAC.

James Cartlidge: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Queen Victoria School: Buildings

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when Ministers in his Department were informed that buildings of the Queen Victoria boarding school were constructed with RAAC.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when officials in his Department learned that the Queen Victoria boarding school had buildings constructed with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department had conducted a survey of the Queen Victoria boarding school to detect the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the last 12 months.

James Cartlidge: Ministers in the Department were informed that Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) had been found in the play-hall at Queen Victoria School on Monday 4 September 2023. Officials from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation had confirmation that RAAC had been found at Queen Victoria School following a survey carried out by the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) specialist contractor, AECOM and the issuing of their report to the MOD on the 20 April 2023.

Military Bases: Concrete

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2023 to Question 181192 on Military Bases: Concrete, whether the surveys to identify buildings constructed with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete have been completed.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2023 to Question 181192 on Military Bases: Concrete, how many surveys were conducted to identify buildings on the Defence Estate containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

James Cartlidge: For now, the focus is on bringing together the information we hold about the Government estate into one place. This work is being coordinated by the Office for Government Property. Surveys are currently being conducted to identify buildings which may have been constructed with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) on Ministry of Defence (MOD) land. We take safety extremely seriously and, based on our current information, RAAC has not traditionally been used by the MOD in the construction of domestic structure, and it is therefore highly unlikely that any Service Family Accommodation is affected. The majority of Single Living Accommodation was not constructed during the review period.

Defence: Buildings

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the safety of personnel in military buildings that may contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to remediate military buildings containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

James Cartlidge: For now, the focus is on bringing together the information we hold about the Government estate into one place. This work is being coordinated by the Office for Government Property.Surveys are currently being conducted to identify buildings which may have been constructed with RAAC on Ministry of Defence land.

Defence: Buildings

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the extent of the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete within Defence Estate buildings.

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has surveyed the Defence Estate buildings at (a) HM Naval Base Clyde and (b) Royal Naval Armaments Depot Coulport to ascertain whether they have been constructed (a) in part or (b) wholly from Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has surveyed the Defence Estate buildings to ascertain if they have been constructed (a) in part or (b) wholly by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete.

James Cartlidge: For now, the focus is on bringing together the information we hold about the Government estate into one place. This work is being coordinated by the Office for Government Property. Surveys are currently being conducted to identify buildings which may have been constructed with RAAC on Ministry of Defence (MOD) land. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation Infrastructure Management System has been used to determine what Ministry of Defence (MOD) buildings might potentially contain Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) material, based on the period in which they were constructed and their construction type. HMNB Clyde including Coulport has been included within the assessments to ascertain if they have been constructed with RAAC.

Defence: Buildings

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many buildings currently operated by the Defence Medical Services were constructed using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many buildings on the defence estate containing either (a) administrative facilities, (b) ammunition storage facilities, (c) fortifications, (d) military intelligence facilities, (e) fossil fuel storage and handling facilities, (f) recreation facilities, (g) research facilities, (h) vehicle repair, maintenance and storage facilities, (i) weapons and ammunition production facilities, (j) correctional facilities were constructed using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

James Cartlidge: For now, the focus is on bringing together the information we hold about the Government estate into one place. This work is being coordinated by the Office for Government Property.Surveys are currently being conducted to identify buildings which may have been constructed with RAAC on Ministry of Defence (MOD) land. We take safety extremely seriously and, based on our current information, RAAC has not traditionally been used by the MOD in the construction of domestic structure, and it is therefore highly unlikely that any Service Family Accommodation is affected. The majority of Single Living Accommodation was not constructed during the review period. We do not classify buildings in the categories requested, information is therefore not held in the format requested.

Armed Forces: Buildings

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many schools operated by the Defence Children’s Services were constructed using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

James Cartlidge: For now, the focus is on bringing together the information we hold about the Government estate into one place. This work is being coordinated by the Office for Government Property.Until all surveys have been completed, we cannot confirm the number of Defence Children Services buildings affected. To date, one school, the Queen Victoria School in Dunblane, has been identified as containing RAAC. The affected play-hall building has been closed.

Military Bases: Concrete

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April to Question 181192, whether the survey to identify buildings that may have been constructed with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete has been completed, and whether that survey included an examination of buildings in the defence estate opened between 1990 and 2000.

James Cartlidge: For now, the focus is on bringing together the information we hold about the Government estate into one place. This work is being coordinated by the Office for Government Property.Surveys are currently being conducted to identify buildings which may have been constructed with RAAC on Ministry of Defence (MOD) land.To date, initial inspections have identified 2,820 Ministry of Defence buildings that require surveys (this number will grow as further initial inspections are completed). As at 5 September, 1,220 surveys have been completed. Buildings to be assessed include all those constructed between 1950 and 1999.

Armed Forces: Buildings

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any Defence Children's Services buildings will be closed because of the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

James Cartlidge: There are no plans to close any Defence Children Services buildings other than the play-hall in Queen Victoria School, Dunblane, which is currently closed, due to the known incidence of RAAC failure.Following initial reports in February 2023, risk mitigations were put in place and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation urgently assessed the building and commissioned a specialist survey which identified RAAC. On 20 April 2023, immediately on receipt of the survey results, the play-hall was taken out of use. A final decision on the future of the building has not yet been made.

House of Commons Commission

House of Commons: Training

Julian Knight: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much the House of Commons spent on equality and diversity training for staff in the 2022-23 financial year.

Sir Charles Walker: The total spent on equality and diversity training for the financial year 2022–2023 was £47,719.00.

Parliamentary Estate: Buildings

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many buildings on the parliamentary estate are constructed with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Sir Charles Walker: Completed surveys have identified some elements of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the Palace of Westminster. Fifteen other areas are in the process of being assessed, 11 within the Palace and four within other buildings on the parliamentary estate.

Department for Business and Trade

Insolvency: Regulation

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits a statutory duty on insolvency practitioners to pay outstanding (a) wages and (b) notice pay as the first duty when a company ceases to trade as a result of insolvency.

Kevin Hollinrake: Raising the priority of payment for employee claims would inevitably reduce the sums that may be paid to other unsecured creditors, including small businesses.Former employees of insolvent employers can claim redundancy payments and other contractual debts from the National Insurance Fund, subject to statutory limits. Those claims will be paid whether or not there are sufficient funds in the insolvent company and will be paid much quicker than if they were elevated higher than other creditors in law.As part of their statutory duties, Insolvency Practitioners must provide the necessary information to the government administered Redundancy Payments Service to facilitate the processing of employee claims as quickly as possible.

Trade Agreements: USA

Richard Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department has held discussions with the devolved Administrations on trade negotiations with the US; and whether she plans to include the devolved Administrations in future negotiations.

Nigel Huddleston: As set out in my letter to Devolved Administrations on 15 June, the UK and U.S. are expanding the work we do together across the full spectrum of our economic, technological, commercial and trade relations through the Atlantic Declaration. Discussions with the U.S. on next steps under this first-of-its-kind agreement are ongoing.The UK Government and the Devolved Administrations have recently adopted a wider and deeper approach to close collaboration on trade policy. As part of this, the Department for Business and Trade continues to engage regularly with the Devolved Administrations on the Atlantic Declaration and wider U.S. trade policy.

Urine Drainage Bags: Import Duties

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department is taking steps to remove import duty on urine drainage bags.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department has had recent discussions with (a) the MedTech Directorate and (b) HMRC on the level of duty applied to the import of drainage bags; and whether she plans to extend the duty suspension expiration period beyond 31 December 2023.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of re-introducing a 6% import duty on urine drainage bags on (a) patients, (b) supply chain resilience and (c) costs to the NHS.

Nigel Huddleston: In 2021 the Government implemented temporary tariff suspensions on a set of goods, including urine drainage bags, to support the healthcare response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government has extended the majority of these suspensions until 31 December 2023. Departmental officials have received separate feedback on the suspension on this product and are considering information provided by industry alongside wider Government analysis. The Government balances various interests when setting tariff policy. These include those of UK producers and consumers, as well as strategic trade objectives such as its FTA agenda and its commitment to developing countries to reduce poverty through trade.

Department for Business and Trade: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many officials in her Department were working on the Trade and Investment Hub with a focus on Northern Ireland on 20 October 2023.

Nigel Huddleston: In 2022 the Department for Business and Trade established a trade and investment hub in Northern Ireland. There are currently ten officials working in the hub, led by a senior civil servant. Roles include leads for key Northern Ireland sectors, such as advanced technology and manufacturing, life and health sciences, agriculture, food and drink and the creative industries. The team work closely with local partners and are dedicated to ensuring businesses across Northern Ireland have access to DBT services, help businesses understand what trade opportunities are available to them, and ensure Northern Ireland business interests are represented in trade policy.

Certification Quality Marks

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when she plans to bring forward legislation to extend the use of (a) CE marking and (b) other forms of recognition that goods meet EU requirements beyond 31 December 2024.

Kevin Hollinrake: On 1 August, the Government announced our intention to introduce legislation to indefinitely extend recognition of CE marked goods that meet EU requirements. This announcement applies to the 18 product regulations that fall under the Department for Business and Trade’s responsibility. Our intention is to introduce legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows, so that the changes are in force before the end of 2024.

Church Commissioners

Church of England: Finance

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to the Answer of 19 September 2023 to Question 198286 and to recommendation 5 in Appendix 1 of Sir Robert Chote's review, whether the dioceses’ annual returns on Lowest Income Communities Funding funding for 2022 will be published.

Andrew Selous: A summary analysis of dioceses’ returns on their use of the Lowest Income Communities Funding in 2022 will be published next year in the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board’s 2023 annual report to the Archbishops’ Council, which will be made publicly available as a General Synod (Misc) paper and on the Church of England website. A summary analysis of dioceses’ returns on their use of the Lowest Income Communities Funding in 2021 was published in the Strategic Investment Board’s 2022 annual report to the Archbishops’ Council, which was published as a General Synod (Misc) paper and is available on the Church of England website at: final-version-2022-sib-annual-report-for-synod.pdf (churchofengland.org) (page 14 refers to the relevant information).

Northern Ireland Office

Apprentices: Taxation

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2023 to Question 146815 on Apprentices: Taxation, which Minister has responsibility for the allocation of the additional funding from the Apprenticeship Levy to Northern Ireland until an Executive is reformed in Northern Ireland.

Mr Steve Baker: The allocation of funding from the UK-wide Apprenticeship Levy is the responsibility of the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland. The restoration of an Executive, as well as a fully functioning Assembly, is a key priority of the UK Government.

Northern Ireland Office: Women

Richard Thomson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of officials in his Department on temporary contracts are women.

Mr Steve Baker: There are currently 66 (29.5%) members of the Northern Ireland Office who are on temporary contracts (fixed-term appointments, loans and secondments), of which 28 (12.5%) are female.

Department for Transport

A120: Dual Carriageways

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessments National Highways have undertaken into the proposals to dual the A120 between Braintree and the A12.

Mr Richard Holden: Proposals to dual the A120 between Braintree and the A12 continue to be considered by National Highways as part of the pipeline of schemes being developed for possible inclusion in a future road investment strategy.

Moritz Schulte

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch's report into the engine room fire and fatality onboard the Moritz Schulte published August 2023.

Mr Richard Holden: The Department evaluates the findings of all Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigations to ensure any significant safety failings are brought to the attention of the appropriate sector. It reviews policy and incorporates any lessons learned to drive continuous improvement. In this tragic case, which occurred on an Isle of Man-registered vessel, MAIB did not make any recommendations since the owners of the vessel had acted quickly to put the necessary provisions in place to prevent any recurrence.MAIB’s publicly available report provides a repository of learning on the causes of the accident and the response.

Shipping: Women

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department are taking to increase the number of women working in the maritime industry.

Mr Richard Holden: The Department is committed to increasing the number of women working in the maritime sector. We support the Diversity in Maritime Taskforce’s Women’s Network focus on increasing the number of women in maritime and providing practical skills and advice through a range of initiatives, including a Menopause Hub; a Working Parent support group and increasing the representation of women through speaker and interview banks. Furthermore, Maritime UK’s Careers Taskforce runs school-based initiatives such as the DfT-Merchant Navy Welfare Board funded Maritime Roadshow for Girls which promotes STEM and maritime careers to 11-14 year olds. DfT also promotes women in maritime though participation in the International Day for Women in Maritime, celebrated annually in May.

Shipping: Carbon Emissions

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Just Transition Task Force report entitled Mapping a Maritime Just Transition, published 9 Nov 2022, what assessment he has made of the implication for his policies of that report's recommendations on the number of seafarers requiring additional training to handle alternative fuels and technologies by 2050.

Mr Richard Holden: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has not been involved with Just Transition Task Force report entitled Mapping a Maritime Just Transition, published 9 Nov 2022 therefore no assessments to this report have been made.

London Underground: Passengers

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with the Mayor of London on trends in the numbers of passengers on Transport for London's underground network in the last 12 months.

Mr Richard Holden: Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL). Under the terms of the current funding settlement, TfL provides the Department with regular data on passenger demand which is monitored and discussed at regular reporting and governance meetings.

London Underground: Standards

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport,  whether he has had recent discussions with the Mayor of London on the regularity of underground trains in London.

Mr Richard Holden: Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL). Policy decisions, including on service levels for the London Underground, are a matter solely for them.

Bus Services: Franchises

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Government plans to release the revised guidance on franchising as set out in the National Bus Strategy for England.

Mr Richard Holden: The Department is currently revising The Bus Services Act 2017 Franchising Scheme Guidance, originally published in November 2017. The revised guidance will provide simplified and updated advice on the franchising process for local bus services and is due to be published later this year.

Driving Licences: Applications

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of applicants seeking a licence renewal who do not have a digital signature.

Huw Merriman: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) can reproduce a signature from a passport on a driving licence if a digital record of a signature is held by Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO). The DVLA is unable to estimate the number of driving licence applicants for whom HMPO does not hold a digital signature.

Railways: Greater Manchester

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 3.13 of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and the Midlands, CP 490, published by his Department in November 2021 pp65, whether a new analysis was conducted before to the decision in Network North for high speed trains to join the conventional network to Manchester.

Huw Merriman: Under the phased opening of HS2, high-speed services were already planned to run into Manchester on the conventional lines initially. The Network North analysis assesses eight trains per hour from London Euston to Birmingham and the North West.

Railways

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many train services were operated by each train operating company (a) in October 2023 and (b) 12 months ago.

Huw Merriman: The number of trains planned by train operating company by rail period is published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) on a periodic basis: Table 3124 - Trains planned and cancellations by operator and cause (periodic) | ORR Data Portal. This currently covers up to 16 September 2023; data on the trains planned for October 2023 will be published next month.

Train Operating Companies: Standards

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many train operating companies provided a 24-hour service (a) in October 2023 and (b) 12 months ago.

Huw Merriman: Most operators do not offer 24 hour services. On most routes there is little demand and important infrastructure inspection and maintenance activities take place overnight with most operators leaving a gap in service of three to four hours overnight. Govia Thameslink Railway, Transpennine Trains and Great Western Railway provide overnight services on key routes.

Leamside Line: Finance

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will provide funding to reopen the Leamside rail line.

Huw Merriman: The Leamside Line is a Transport North East led project. The Government is giving locally elector mayors the means to spend on the priorities they determine are right for the parts of the country they represent, rather than taking all decisions in Westminster. We have made a promise to provide around £1.8 billion funding to the North East and they can then choose which schemes they allocate the funding to.

High Speed 2 Line

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a list of properties purchased by HS2 Ltd for Phase 2a of the HS2 project.

Huw Merriman: The ownership of properties by the Secretary of State for Transport is a matter of public record and available through the Land Registry.

High Speed 2 Line

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a list of properties purchased by HS2 Ltd for Phase 2b west of the HS2 project.

Huw Merriman: The ownership of properties by the Secretary of State for Transport is a matter of public record and available through the Land Registry.

High Speed 2 Line: Property

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) homes and (b) businesses were acquired by HS2 Limited as part of works relating to Phase 2a and Phase 2b of HS2.

Huw Merriman: On HS2 Phase 2a, a total of 12.31 square kilometres of land has been permanently acquired (including long leaseholds) within the limits provided for in the HS2 Phase 2a Act. In addition some properties have been acquired outside the limits of the Act, under the various HS2 property schemes.Some parcels of land within the limits of the Phase 2a Act have been used for early construction works, and all other land and property on Phase 2a is managed by HS2 Ltd until it is required. As of August 2023, there were 233 land and property assets within this category.On Phase 2b 740 land and property assets have been acquired. We use the term “land and property assets” as these figures include plots of land and farmland in addition to properties.

Railways: East Midlands

Andrew Lewer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to build a railway line between Northampton and Market Harborough.

Huw Merriman: On behalf of sub-national transport body England's Economic Heartland, Network Rail previously prepared a feasibility study into reinstating a railway connection between the West Coast Main Line at Northampton and the Midland Main Line at Market Harborough. I encourage him to engage with England's Economic Heartland further on this.

Railways: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of using (a) the Stockport-Stalybridge line to Denton, (b) the Ashton Moss line and (c) Crowthorn Curve to (i) facilitate rail growth from Stockport to Manchester Victoria and (ii) alleviate pressure at Piccadilly and the Deansgate-Oxford Road chord.

Huw Merriman: This Government has committed £593m to improve reliability and capacity in Manchester which passengers are now benefiting from. The Manchester Task Force will consider capacity improvements on the Castlefield corridor and other parts of the network including the areas you list.

Railway Stations: Parking

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with railway station operators on parking charges at railways stations; and whether he plans to take steps to encourage railway station operators to reduce parking charges.

Huw Merriman: Charging for car parking is a commercial decision for Train Operating Companies (TOCs) and Network Rail, and TOCs are responsible for considering the equalities impacts of operational changes on issues such as this. The Rail Delivery Group published the Station Car Parking Good Practice Guide for Train Operators in 2018, which sets out that station operators should consider each station’s needs and customer base when making decisions on charging at the car parks they manage.

Railways: Midlands

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to reopen the Ivanhoe line from Burton-on-Trent to Leicester.

Huw Merriman: The project is in the Development stage and is currently focusing on the reinstatement of services between Derby and Coalville. This will reconnect all key towns in the corridor and is likely to be deliverable the fastest. The Department is considering how an extension of this service to Leicester is best progressed.

High Speed 2 Line

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish maps of the (a) properties and (b) land purchased by HS2 Ltd for Phase 2b west of the HS2 project.

Huw Merriman: The ownership of properties by the Secretary of State for Transport is a matter of public record and available through the Land Registry.

West Coast Main Line

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 73 of his Department's Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands, published in November 2021, CP 490, whether it remains his policy that (a) the West Coast Main Line is at capacity and (b) there are no viable choices for new lines and upgrades to the West Coast Main Line.

Huw Merriman: The Government remains committed to HS2 Phase 1 which will have a transformative effect on rail capacity: nearly doubling capacity up to 250,000 seats per day across the primary long-distance operator on the West Coast Main Line and Phase 1 - triple that of the operator’s current estimated average daily demand. In line with normal practice, work to consider future service patterns and capacity in the light of Network North continues.

High Speed 2 Line

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish maps of the (a) properties and (b) land purchased by HS2 Ltd for Phase 2a of the HS2 project.

Huw Merriman: The ownership of properties by the Secretary of State for Transport is is a matter of public record and available through the Land Registry.

High Speed 2 Line

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a list of properties purchased by HS2 Ltd for Phase 2b east of the HS2 project.

Huw Merriman: The ownership of properties by the Secretary of State for Transport is a matter of public record and available through the Land Registry.

Railways: Repairs and Maintenance

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding to what end will be provided to the Network Rail Modernising Maintenance project as it applies in Scotland.

Huw Merriman: Decisions regarding specific funding levels for Network Rail in Scotland, including individual projects, are devolved to the Scottish Government.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Pets

Matt Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that appropriate guidance is provided to new pet owners.

Trudy Harrison: Pet owners’ responsibilities are laid down in several Government codes of practice for animal welfare, which are available here: Animal welfare legislation: protecting pets - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The codes summarise important information for owners and helps them to make decisions about how best to care for their animals. Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, licensed pet sellers are required to provide prospective owners information setting out how the animal’s health and welfare needs should be met. In addition, my Department maintains a national communications campaign (Petfished) to raise awareness of issues associated with low-welfare and illegal supply of cats and dogs. This includes providing clear signposting on where responsible breeders and rehoming centres can be found and encouraging prospective buyers to research the seller thoroughly before they visit and decide to purchase. Finally, my Department has also developed dog safety fact sheets in collaboration with the Child Accident Prevention Trust and animal welfare organisations to encourage safe interactions between families and dogs. I welcome the efforts of veterinarians, animal welfare charities, breeders and other practitioners in sharing these sources of information with pet owners.

Sustainable Farming Incentive

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many expressions of interest her Department has received from farmers wanting to enter the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2024; and how many farmers have been invited to apply to the scheme up to the removal of the expression of interest stage of the application process.

Mark Spencer: The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer for 2024 is being finalised and we will release further details to farmers ahead of its launch next year. By 19 October 2023, when the majority of farm businesses are able to apply directly for the 2023 offer for the SFI scheme, the Rural Payments Agency had invited 15,275 farmers to apply.

Wines

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support the Government provides to (a) English and (b) Welsh wine producers.

Mark Spencer: The Government has championed the success of English and Welsh wine producers for many years and the sector continues to be a fast-growing magnet for domestic and foreign investment. I am delighted to hear from wine producers that vineyards anticipate a record-breaking 2023 harvest in size and quality. The Government is committed to supporting our booming wine sector. Defra recently published plans to reform the outdated and overly restrictive wine laws inherited from the EU. The primary purpose of the reforms is to remove barriers to growth, foster innovation in the sector and have a simplified rulebook that supports rather than hinders our producers. The plans include giving producers access to the latest winemaking practices and processes, changing labelling rules to support the marketing of innovative products and measures to reduce packaging waste and associated costs. The reforms, developed in partnership with the sector, will maintain the UK's high food and drink standards. At the same time, the reforms offer our wine producers clearer rules, offering new opportunities for the sector to grow and innovate in the future.

Fish Farming: Animal Welfare

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to regulate (a) the stunning and (b) other aspects of the welfare of farmed fish.

Mark Spencer: Current legislation already provides protection for farmed fish kept for the production of meat or other products whilst on farm and during transport. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it an offence either to cause any captive animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for welfare needs. Legislation on the protection of animals at the time of killing requires that farmed fish are spared avoidable pain, distress or suffering during their killing and related operations. The Animal Welfare Committee has updated its 2014 Opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing and we are studying the recommendations carefully to determine next steps.

Natural England

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many members of the board of Natural England held valid appointments to that board on 28 June 2023; and where the register of their interests is held.

Trudy Harrison: On 28 June 2023 the Natural England Board consisted of twelve members with valid appointments: Tony JuniperLord BlencathraPeter UnwinKim ShillinglawRosamund Blomfield-SmithHenry RobinsonClare FitzsimmonsMel AustenLynn DicksDame Caroline SpelmanCatherine DugmoreKerry Ten Kate Natural England maintains a Board member register of interests and relevant details from this are included in the Annual Report and Accounts published on GOV.UK. Any changes which are declared by Board members are captured in Board minutes and the register updated. The minutes are published on GOV.UK after each meeting.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Women

Steven Bonnar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of civil servants on temporary contracts in her Department are women.

Mark Spencer: The proportion of Permanent Temporary (Casual employees) in the department who are women, excluding Arm’s Length Bodies, as of 30 September 2023 was 63%. The proportion was calculated by the number of female staff on temporary contracts divided by the total number of staff on temporary contracts at the department. The department does not have a temporary promotion policy. When staff work at a grade above, they receive Temporary Additional Responsibility Allowance and not a temporary contract.

Agriculture: Soil

Sir Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help reduce the transition costs for farmers moving to regenerative agricultural methods.

Sir Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of regenerative agriculture on achieving the Government's climate goals while increasing UK food security; and whether her Department is taking steps to increase the adoption of regenerative farming practices.

Mark Spencer: Farming in England is going through the biggest change in a generation. We have listened to the needs of farmers and our approach to working with the farming sector is also changing. We are improving our policies and services to make them more effective, fair, flexible, accessible, and workable for farmers. Environmental land management is the foundation of our new approach. Our new schemes will pay for sustainable farming practices (such as reducing carbon emissions, creating, and preserving habitat, and making landscape-scale environmental changes) and improvements to animal health and welfare. This is an important step towards achieving important environmental outcomes such as net zero, climate change adaptation, biodiversity, and water quality.   In late June 2022, we launched the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). SFI pays farmers for actions that support food production and can help improve farm productivity and resilience, whilst also protecting and improving the environment. The SFI scheme contains standards that can support a regenerative approach and are designed so that there are options available for all types of farmers. The standards include: • hedgerows standard  • integrated pest management standard  • nutrient management standard  • arable and horticultural land standard  • improved grassland standard  • low input grassland standard We are rolling out the SFI2023 in a controlled way, making sure we offer everyone the right level of support. We invited Basic Payment Scheme eligible farmers to register interest for SFI2023 with the Rural Payments Agency from 30 August 2023. Over 14,000 farmers have done so, representing one in six. This process is already being simplified, with the majority of farmers no longer needing to registrations of interest as of the week commencing 16 October 2023. We started to accept applications from 18 September, and I am pleased to confirm the first payments were made on 17 October 2023. The Landscape Recovery scheme also supports a regenerative approach to agriculture. It focusses on restoring nature across a wider landscape, bringing together landowners and managers who want to take a more large-scale, long-term approach to producing environmental and climate goods on their land. Round two pilot applications opened on 18 May 2023 and closed on 21 September 2023. Applications were open to any individuals or groups who want to come together on projects of over 500 hectares and public bodies will need to apply in collaboration with other land managers – for example, with neighbouring landowners, farmers, and tenants. Projects involving elements of regenerative farming could apply.   Our Countryside Stewardship scheme includes actions that can form part of a regenerative or restorative farming approach; to improve soil quality, enhance biodiversity, decrease water pollution, and restore, create, and manage habitats. We are offering farmers and land managers, including those who take a regenerative approach, funding for equipment, technology, and infrastructure that improves farm productivity and benefits the environment through the Farming Investment Fund. This offers funding for equipment, technology, and infrastructure that improves farm productivity and benefits the environment. This fund provides grants to farmers, foresters, and growers (including contractors to these sectors) so that they can invest in the things they need to improve productivity and enhance the natural environment.   We are also offering support to drive adoption of new innovation by farmers and growers. The Farming Innovation Programme encourages groups of farmers, growers, businesses, and researchers to get involved in collaborative research and development. We believe that by working together, they will be able to solve challenges and exploit opportunities for increasing productivity and environmental sustainability in the agricultural and horticultural sectors in England. Farmers testing out regenerative approaches to agriculture will be able to apply for these grants.

Pets: Theft

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve conviction rates for pet theft.

Trudy Harrison: Local Authorities have a statutory responsibility under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to inspect their areas from ‘time to time’ to identify and require the remediation of any land. The Government recognises that in particularly severe or complex cases Landfill Tax can act as a prohibitive financial barrier to the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated land. My Department held a Call for Evidence on this issue and published a Government response in March this year. As a result of this evidence, we are currently developing a grant scheme to fund costs of Landfill Tax to public bodies in England, where such costs are acting as a determinative barrier to the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated land.